DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Accord with militants was signed under duress: ANP
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Saturday that although he was confident the Army would not derail democracy, he would mobilise political forces to fend off any attempt to remove President Asif Zardari through unconstitutional means.
Mr Asfandyar, whose party is an ally of the Peoples Party, categorically said that he did not see any threat to democracy from the Pakistan Army.
I dont think (Army chief) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will derail democracy, the ANP chief said at a news conference after attending a party meeting at the Chief Ministers House here.
A television network quoted the ANP supremo as saying that the NWFP government had signed the peace agreement with Taliban under duress. One militant wearing a suicide vest placed himself behind Afrasiab Khattak and one behind Mian Iftikhar (the partys senior leaders) during the signing ceremony.
But even then the agreement did not work because of the intransigence of militant leaders, Mr Asfandyar added.
The ANP leader said that Mr Zardari had spoken his mind in the speech at Naudero last week in his capacity as the PPP co-chairman.
He said the Constitution had laid down a procedure to remove the president. The Constitution is very clear on how to remove the president, he said.
The president could only be removed through impeachment or through a vote of no confidence, he added.
But we shall stand by him (President Zardari) in the event of unconstitutional means for his removal, he asserted.
Mr Asfandyar said if all institutions worked within the limits stipulated by the Constitution, there will be no problem.
In reply to a question about the non-state actors referred to by President Zardari in his speech, he said these elements were involved in the carnage in Karachi, Peshawar and the attack on the GHQ.
He said that his party had opposed the National Reconciliation Ordinance despite being an ally of the PPP.
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If ANP despite holding office in Swat and NWFP didn't want to sign the peace accord, who made the decision to sign it overruling them?
PESHAWAR: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Saturday that although he was confident the Army would not derail democracy, he would mobilise political forces to fend off any attempt to remove President Asif Zardari through unconstitutional means.
Mr Asfandyar, whose party is an ally of the Peoples Party, categorically said that he did not see any threat to democracy from the Pakistan Army.
I dont think (Army chief) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will derail democracy, the ANP chief said at a news conference after attending a party meeting at the Chief Ministers House here.
A television network quoted the ANP supremo as saying that the NWFP government had signed the peace agreement with Taliban under duress. One militant wearing a suicide vest placed himself behind Afrasiab Khattak and one behind Mian Iftikhar (the partys senior leaders) during the signing ceremony.
But even then the agreement did not work because of the intransigence of militant leaders, Mr Asfandyar added.
The ANP leader said that Mr Zardari had spoken his mind in the speech at Naudero last week in his capacity as the PPP co-chairman.
He said the Constitution had laid down a procedure to remove the president. The Constitution is very clear on how to remove the president, he said.
The president could only be removed through impeachment or through a vote of no confidence, he added.
But we shall stand by him (President Zardari) in the event of unconstitutional means for his removal, he asserted.
Mr Asfandyar said if all institutions worked within the limits stipulated by the Constitution, there will be no problem.
In reply to a question about the non-state actors referred to by President Zardari in his speech, he said these elements were involved in the carnage in Karachi, Peshawar and the attack on the GHQ.
He said that his party had opposed the National Reconciliation Ordinance despite being an ally of the PPP.
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If ANP despite holding office in Swat and NWFP didn't want to sign the peace accord, who made the decision to sign it overruling them?
