QWP chief denounces February 8 elections as ‘ghost polls’

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Sherpao has termed the February 8 elections as “ghost polls”, which would drive the country further into political and economic instability.

Speaking to The News on Thursday, Sherpao said that almost all political parties have rejected the general elections and started protests and agitation against what he described as the most manipulated polls.

“From top to bottom, certain elements within the Election Commission, district administration, returning officers, and other institutions were involved in skewing the polling results in favour of specific candidates and political parties,” the QWP leader said.

Sherpao and his party candidates failed to secure a single seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both in the provincial assembly and the National Assembly, during the polls. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured the majority of seats for the National Assembly and are able to easily form the government for the third consecutive term.

Expressing concerns for the people of cash-strapped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sherpao feared that conflict between the upcoming federal and provincial governments loomed ahead.

“Even the government in the Centre would be highly ‘fragile’, as major allies would rely on smaller partners within and outside the parliament,” he said, adding that all political figures should set aside personal ego and interests to ensure a stable government at the center.

Sherpao announced that his party would soon convene an important meeting of its central and provincial executive members to devise a future plan and agitation strategy.

“Whom we should expect justice and accountability from, as nearly all state institutions, including the interim government, were responsible for conducting these ‘ghost polls’,” he said.

He added that even the international community had raised concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of the February 8 elections. The QWP leader acknowledged that certain actions by the establishment and caretaker government before the general elections had angered the workers of a specific party.”

To a question, Sherpao said that veteran politicians, particularly nationalist forces, were once again excluded from the parliament, adding that there would be no proper representation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the federal cabinet, as the majority of elected representatives from the province would sit on the opposition benches. However, he said that the QWP would continue to raise voice for the provincial rights and resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, even if the party has no representation in the parliament.