ANP likely to lead next Govt in NWFP 
Pakistan Times National News Desk

PESHAWAR: With ANP emerging as the single largest political entity in the NWFP, is mostly likely to be in the driving seat in the formation of next government with PPPP, PML-N and Independents as its coalition partners.

The political hobnobbing has begun in the province with ‘Bilour House’ as the main center of focus where hectic political maneuvering was on to draw the complexion of new ruling setup in the NWFP.

The ANP President Asfandaryar Wali Khan has spoken his mind about leading the new government being the single largest party.

The Independents will play key role in the next setup that has grabbed 20 general seats out of 96 in the Provincial Assembly.

The most likely troika being developed will comprise of ANP, PPPP and PML (N) in the wake of split mandate. The ANP will occupy the slot of Chief Minister due to numerical strength while the portfolio of Senior Minister and Speaker NWFP Assembly might go to the PPPP pocket.

Another scenario, which was also being considered and discussed by the head of winning parties, will bring the PPPP in the driving seat with JUI-F, PML-Q, PPP-S, Independents and other like minded parties as its partners.

The ANP leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour who is likely a candidate of ANP for CM’s slot in a brief chat with APP has denied the impression that his party will succumb to the pressure of independents and other political parties.

“ANP desires to take all the democratic forces and moderate political parties in forming the coalition government,” ANP Provincial General Secretary, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said.

He said ground realities is that the numerically ANP stood first and negotiations with democratic forces are underway for formation of future ruling setup.

He said that the ANP will need commitment about certain issues like provincial autonomy, restoration of durable peace in NWFP and giving of CM slot to ANP.

He said that democratic political parties have no other option but to sit together to bring the country out of current situation and stopped the way of anti democratic forces forever.

Mian Aftikhar said that ANP is against violence and politics of confrontation and wants solution of problems through negotiations.

It will try to make coalition with parties which will dominate the central government hinting at possible patch up with the PPPP in the NWFP.

The ANP leader said, party leadership to take final decision about nomination of its CM and so far no name has been finalized.

The PPP NWFP Head Rahimdad Khan when asked to comment said, “PPP wants to take all the political parties along in formation of new government.” He said that negotiation with ANP is underway for future setup in NWFP.

He said that ANP and PPPP points of views on several issues are almost same. However, PPPP leadership also started talks with JUI-F and Independents for formation of new government in NWFP.

Rahimd Dad Khan rejected the impression that PPPP will seek help of PML-Q for formation of NWFP government.

“All the democratic forces should join hands to pull the country out of the crisis,” Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Central General Secretary PML-N said.

He said that unity of ANP, PPPP and PML-N in current political scenario is must for integrity, political stability and strengthening of institutions.

He said that it would be unfortunate for the democracy and the country if the democratic forces failed in showing unity and that the future generation will not pardon us,” he added.

Mr. Jhagra linked participation in NWFP government as coalition partner with stance of his party leadership in center.

Prof. Dr. A.Z Hilali, Chairman Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar said that people had rejected feudal politics as majority of candidates elect belonged to middle class.

Hilali remarked that if ANP, which is in strong position to form the government in NWFP after Khan Shahib Government, should avoid issue-based politics and instead concentrate on solve genuine problems of the masses.

And if they donot adhere to it, then the ANP will meet the same fate as of MMA. He said that great responsibility lied on ANP to give up traditional politics and work for uplift of the province.

He said that the NWFP was bestowed with God gifted natural resources and the ANP should focus on exploring tourism, agriculture potential of the province and set up industries.

Province will not need to import wheat from Punjab provided thousands acres of barren lands in Southern districts were developed for agriculture purpose.

He said that the phenomenon of coalition government was not new for the region as we have the one in our neighborhood in India where Congress was heading 15 parties coalition followed by seven parties in Nepal and five parties government in Turkey.

He said that political parties must show political maturity, wisdom and take every step with care for sustainable democracy and improvement of socio economic condition of down trodden people.

The boycott of the polls by the APDM he opined benefited the secular forces in the country. The people of Punjab, he said upheld the slogans of ‘Parra Likha Punjab” (Educated Punjab) in true sense by electing anti establishment forces in the February 18 polls.●