ANP to follow APDM: Asfandyar
CHARSADDA: ANP’s central leader and senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has said if All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) decides to boycott the upcoming general elections, his party would be the first to withdraw its nomination papers.
Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he said if all the opposition parties boycotted the elections after reaching a consensus, then ANP would take a headstart by withdrawing nomination papers, otherwise the electoral forms would continue to be filed.
Regarding seat adjustment with other political parties at district level, he said it would be decided by the party’s Majlis-e-Aamila, adding no alliance would be considered with any party at district level.
He added that APDM is a political alliance not meant for elections. He also claimed ANP’s victory in the elections.
Earlier, Asfandyar Wali Khan was brought to the Kutchehry in a big procession by party workers where he filed his nomination papers. ANP district president Bashir Khan Umarzai, general secretary Qasim Ali Mohammadzai, candidate for PF-17 Zulshakoor, candidate for PF-18 Arshad, candidate for PF-19 Shakeel Bashir Umarzai, candidate for PF-20 Taimur Khan, PF-21 candidate Syed Masoom Bacha and candidate for PF-22 Naqsood Khan and other party leaders filed their nomination papers.
From military to civil rule
After clearing all impediments in his way to enjoy second term in the office, President General Pervez Musharraf is set to take oath in the current week as civilian president doffing his uniform on the direction of the Supreme Court.
He was declared re-elected for the second term by the full court of the Supreme Court on Friday dismissing all petitions filed against his candidature and directed him to take oath relinquishing the office of the Chief of Army Staff before 30th of this month.
It be will be a historic occasion that would complete the process of transition of power from army to civilian thus accomplishing the third and final phase for moving towards complete democratic rule.
With the taking of oath for the second term by the president Pakistan Army will have its new chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani who is now serving as Vice Chief of Army staff and it was announced at the time of his appointment that he would replace General Pervez Musharraf as army chief when he would take oath for his second term.
It is expected that keeping in view the importance of the occasion the oath-taking ceremony would be attended by some heads of state and government of the friendly countries besides high-level delegations.
There is also likelihood of Benazir Bhutto and Maulana Fazlur Rehman and some other politicians including PML-Q high-ups attending the ceremony.
However there is no chance of inviting Nawaz Sharif who landed in Lahore on Sunday for the ceremony as there is a wide gap between him and the President.
The oath taking of General Pervez Musharraf would end eight years’ direct military rule in the country and would be the final step towards civilian rule, as tailored by the General according to the ground realities of Pakistan.