Asfandyar Wali re-elected as ANP President: Imran, Qadri will be responsible if democracy derails: ANP chief

Asfandyar Wali Khan was elected President of Awami National Party (ANP) unopposed here on Sunday. Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour was elected as Senior Vice President, Mian Iftikhar Hussain as General Secretary and Zahid Khan as Secretary Information.
According to details, a meeting of the ANP Central Council was held under the chairmanship of Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel at Wali Bagh in Charsadda.
Addressing members of the ANP Central Council, Asfandyar Wali Khan said Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri would be held responsible if there was any damage to democracy through marches and sit-ins. He said tsunami itself is destruction and those trying to bring change in its name were increasing confrontation.
He said the ANP in no way support any national or technocrat government as there was no mention of them in the Constitution. He said it was unconstitutional to force the Prime Minister to resign by placing pistol on his forehead and pointed out that there was a way out prescribed in the Constitution to remove a prime minister.
ANP President said despite reservations, they accepted the 2013 election results and democratic traditions demand that the mandate of the people must be respected.
Asfandyar Wali said for Imran and others, the Chief Election Commissioner was Fakhru Bhai while for the ANP it was Hakeemullah Mehsood and therefore it was the right of the ANP to protest.
He questioned whether it was politics and democracy to demand resignations by gathering 50,000 to 60,000 people. He categorically stated that the nation would hold Imran and Tahirul Qadri hundred percent responsible if there was any harm to democracy.
He said in the past, political decisions were taken through dialogue and understanding in parliament but in new Pakistan what was demanded by Imran Khan, decisions were made on streets and roads. He made it clear that the ANP would never side with undemocratic forces.
He strongly criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, saying that he left the dead bodies of 18 children unattended and went to Islamabad to sing and dance. He said during their government's tens of thousands of IDPs were dealt with respect and honour but now there were left at the mercy of the fate.