By Sirajuddin
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial President Aimal Wali Khan opposing elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab has said that elections should be held simultaneously across the country and his party would strongly protest against the early polls in the two provinces.
In an exclusive interview with Wenews, Aimal Wali Khan said that when the present government’s tenure was over, the general election should be held simultaneously across the country.
“My party is not ready to accept any decision that elections should be held in the two provinces first and in the rest of the country later on, I think it will be a wrong step,” he said.
He said inflation has taken a toll on the common man, and there is an atmosphere of suffocation. First, efforts should be to make a deal with International Monetary Fund and over other economic problems before holding the elections.
‘We are ally of PDM and will stay together’
The ANP leader also spoke about taking ministries in the federal government and the caretaker setup. He said that his party is an ally of the federal government but it did not take any advantage. “We have no stakes, ministries or other posts whatsoever in the government. He also made it clear that they supported the PDM intending to topple Imran Khan’s government and his party still stands by Shahbaz Sharif and will continue to like those who have taken ministries in the government.
‘What was Gen Faiz’s intention?’
Aimal Wali Khan criticised Imran Khan and his government, saying that if they did not remove him through the no-confidence motion, Imran Khan had every intention of making Gen Faiz Hameed the army chief.
He said that Gen Faiz would have given a two-thirds majority to Imran Khan and then he would have altered the system with this two-thirds majority and the most important aim was to take the country towards the presidential system. “After this, Imran Khan, as the prime minister, would give an extension to Gen Faiz before himself becoming the president of the country for five years.
‘PTI only took loans in K-P’
Aimal Wali strongly criticised the PTI government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the PTI used the province like “a kitchen”.
He said the PTI only took loans during its 10-year tenure and in the 10 years, no mega project except one BRT was launched while the loans jumped by Rs600 billion.
‘Under pressure to quit government’
Aimal Wali said that his party is facing criticism for being an ally of the PDM government and “there were voices from within the party to leave the alliance as many want us to leave this alliance.”
‘Establishment should not be neutral’
He said that the establishment should never be neutral, but they should abide by the Constitution. “There is no word like neutral in the Constitution. After imposing one (a party) on the nation and being part of the regime change, you cannot say we are neutral. I don’t think the establishment is under the Constitution.”
‘SC should not interfere in government affairs’
Aimal Wali Khan also expressed his concerns about the top judiciary and said the Supreme Court should not run the government and let the government run the parliament.
“The Supreme Court should focus on its work. People die waiting for justice and only then a decision comes about their acquittal.”
