Qaumi Watan Party activists in Pakistan”s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have decided not to contest the upcoming polls under their party”s banner following death threats issued by the Tehreek-e-Taliban. Instead, they will now stand as independent candidates. QWP president Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said all activists in FATA are avoiding party tickets, due to Taliban threats. He said the party leaders who contest as independents, due to the fear of Taliban reprisal, will rejoin the QWP after winning elections, reports The Express Tribune. Sherpao also clarified that QWP activists are only facing such threats in FATA, and not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Awami National Party candidates have faced similar problems in FATA and K-P, according to its senior vice-president Haji Muhammad Adeel. However, he said that ANP”s leaders in that region have not refused the party ticket. In a different vein, Election officers in North and South Waziristan revealed that not a single ANP candidate is contesting on the three national seats from both tribal agencies. Furthermore, while two Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates filed their nomination papers for two NA seats from South Waziristan, no one filed for the only NA seat from North Waziristan. Former PPP provincial information secretary in K-P, Khawaja Yawar Naseer said that although PPP candidates have also received threats, no one has yet refused a party ticket. (ANI)
