LANDI KOTAL: Awami National Party provincial vice-president Saqibullah Khan Chamkani on Tuesday asked party workers to begin preparations for the upcoming provincial assembly and local body elections in the newly-merged tribal districts.

Addressing party workers and tribesmen here, Mr Chamkani said his party had always raise voice for the rights of the residents of underdeveloped tribal areas at every forum.

Accompanied by party leaders Arbab Tahir, Mukhtar Khan, Shah Hussain Shinwari and Saida Jan Afridi, he said the ANP had always advocated the total repeal of the oppressive Frontier Crimes Regulation and the merger of the region with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Our struggle for the emancipation of the people of tribal regions from the cruel and inhuman crimes regulation is evident but unfortunately, other political forces are stealing our credit for Fata-KP merger,” he said.

The ANP leader urged workers to vigorously begin election campaign in every tribal district to ensure the victory of the party’s candidates.

ANP, Khyber chapter, president Shah Hussain Shinwari said his party would not accept any restrictions on the holding of political meetings and corner meetings ahead of the elections for 16 provincial assembly seats and local bodies.

Resenting a ban on the holding of political gatherings in Bajaur district, he said the prime minister was canvassing for his party in tribal districts and therefore, other political parties, too, had the right to do so.

Mr Shinwari said the ANP had always taken the lead in highlighting the issues of tribal areas and that those trying to unduly claim the credit for Fata-KP merger should read the ANP’s manifesto to learn that the party had been advocating that for decades.—Correspondent