PESHAWAR, Dec 4: Wriggling out of political inactivity to challenge her nemesis, Begum Nasim Wali is a phenomenon of the past with the ability to make Awami National Party`s revival difficult, according to analysts.

Political scientists and her well-wishers, when contacted, said that Begum Nasim`s fresh challenge to Asfandyar Wali might not weaken his grip on ANP, but she could further harm the party`s public image.

`She is Wali Khan`s widow, not ill-reputed like her brother Azam Hoti, and has contributions to the party, but she is of an elderly age in which no one can expect her to provide dynamic leadership to the party,` said Dr Ijaz Khan Khattak, a professor at the University of Peshawar`s international affairs department.

The Pakhtunkhwa nationalist force appears to be under pressure after Begum Nasim made a sudden entry over the political horizon and announced that she had rejoined the fray to rid ANP of Asfandyar Wali and his associates.

`Perhaps, to end her effectivity and eliminate the chance to cause ripples in the party`s internal circles, ANP`s top leaders held a joint press conference (to show unity in their ranks), said political analyst Khadim Hussain, the director of Bacha Khan Education Foundation.

Begum Nasim`s sympathisers, however, believe that the ANP top leaders` December 1 press conference was a reflection of the shockwave she had caused.

`ANP leaders` spirits are at the lowest since the election debacle. They can`t withstand Begum Nasim`s challenge as her return has mobilised party`s committed workers,` said one ofher close associates.

Dr Khattak and others with deep insight about ANP`s internal politics disagree.`Three things are missing in her approach: clarity of issues as she has not put forward a vision about strategic issues important to ANP; structural alternatives as in the absence of party`s organisational structures she has not come up with new structures to put in place; and a leadership paradigm to provide alternate discourses for the party on matters relating to regional and Pakistani politics, said a scholar, who wished not to be named.

For Dr Khattak, she can undermine ANP`s revival and further harm its public image.

`I don`t think she can win over ANP workers again, but it does not mean she can`t negatively impact the party. She has the capacity to hit where it matters the most: public perception,` he said.

Despite her elderly age, fragile health, and lengthy disconnection with the party, she is a potent political force, according to her supporters. Her opponents concurred.

She led the party from the front for 27 years and still had the capacity to cause, at least, confusion in the leadership ranks, said an ANP insider.

It was this confusion factor that senior ANP leaders Haji Adeel, Mian Iftikhar and others addressed ajoint press conference on Sunday last, accusing Begum Nasim of hatching conspiracies against the party. The elderly politiclan, according to her associates, would soon display her public support, holding a workers` convention at Peshawar.

`She is a viable alternative as she can address public meetings anywhere she may want to, but Mr Asfandyar Wali and others can`t walk freely even in their hometowns because of threats from terrorists,` said a former ANP leader. Intikhab Amir