Awami National Party

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Awami National Party

Introduction The Awami National Party (ANP, Awami meaning People) is a nationalist political party (leftist) in Pakistan. The Party is mostly famous among the Pashtuns of Pakistan in NWFP, Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Western Punjab, Northern Areas. The Party's current president is Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan. At the last legislative elections, 20 October 2002, the party won 1.0 % of the popular vote but no seats in the lower house of Parliament. Manifesto for election 2013 of Awami National Party For more details click here : Manifesto 2013 Awami National Party History In 1986, the National Democratic Party merged with several other groups to form the Awami National Party. Abdul Wali Khan was elected it's president and Sindhi nationalist RasulBakh Palijo was elected party secretary general. ANP is one of many leftist parties of Pakistan. The strongholds of ANP are in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan, particularly North West frontier Province. The party is one of the few political parties in Pakistan to conduct internal elections. Current status Awami National Party will strive for the establishment of a prosperous, peaceful and liberal society, which shall be based on the following fundamental principles: 1. Democracy 2. Guarantees for protection of rights and identities of all nationalities of the country and an unrestricted freedom for the development of their cultures and languages 3. Freedom from external domination 4. Freedom from sectarianism 5. Social justice Ideology The party espouses a liberal pro-Pashtu philosophy advocating regional autonomy and increased cultural expression. A frequent coalition partner in provincial politics, it was routed in the 2002 elections because of its opposition to the Taliban and support for the US invasion of Afghanistan. It joined the opposition All Parties Democratic Movement, and along with other partys except the Pakistan Peoples Party resigned from Parliament in October 2007 in protest against the military regime of Pervaiz Musharraf. It was targeted in 2007 and 2008 by presumed supporters of the Taliban. Despite the attacks, the party has advocated dialogue with moderate tribal elements to end present violence in the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It has rejected foreign interference in the region whether US or Al-Qaeda. Since the 2008 elections the party has been the principal target of Tehreek-e-Taliban militants with over 100 activists by February 2009 having been assassinated by suicide bombers or in target killings. It has also accused the Pakistani establishment of being complicit in allowing the growth of the Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan because of its former support for the fighters.