ANP seeks global help in fight against militancy

[RabzonKhan]

ANP seeks global help in fight against militancy

Sunday, January 25, 2009
By By Mazhar Tufail

ISLAMABAD: Information Secretary of the Awami National Party (ANP) Zahid Khan has said the NWFP government is unable to combat insurgency in parts of the province for lack of resources and needs help from the global fraternity, particularly from the Arab countries.

Talking to The News, Zahid confirmed the report that he and other leaders of the ANP were receiving threats of attacks on them and destruction of their property from the Baitullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Swat militants.

“Our party is following the policy of non-violence in politics, but there is no doubt that we are receiving (death) threats despite sticking to this guiding principle,” Zahid said.

“The remnants of late General Zia-ul-Haq and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf are involved in these acts,” he alleged.

He said that when Musharraf banned the organisations involved in fanning sectarianism under international pressure, the outfits moved to the tribal areas and Swat under a well-orchestrated plan.

He accused the same elements of bombing the residence of Wali Khan in the scenic valley.

Zahid said: “The Frontier government lacks the resources to fight the ongoing insurgency. So, security forces are duty-bound to establish peace in the troubled districts of the province and the tribal region.”

He said: “The ANP leadership urges the world community, particularly the Arab countries, to help us just like they are working to compensate the Palestinians after the recent barbaric Israeli attacks on Gaza, because what the Jews did to the Muslim population of Gaza is happening in Swat in the name of Islam.”

He said that they were not opposed to religious leaders, but would definitely continue exposing the self-proclaimed torchbearers of religion, who were destroying girls’ schools and other properties in Swat. “The Frontier government and the provincial assembly have expressed their reservations over the ongoing operation in Swat,” he said while referring to the military action that angered the residents.

“We got votes in the name of peace and our party believes in dialogue and non-violence, so we are being targeted. Our character assassination through the media is going on because the elements opposed to non-violence do not want peace the province,” he concluded.

 

[metalfalcon]

They should ask for their NATION's Support First. Be positive and Fair, Have Sincere Dialogue with Local People there, who are Annoyed with you and Have Opted for the Taliban.

Solve your Problems on your Own nobody cares for our Troubles.

 

[RabzonKhan]

Once again our Pakhtun brothers and sisters have rejected Islamist and have elected secularist. Cheers!


ANP declared winner in Bunir by-polls

Staff Report
February 11, 2009

PESHAWAR: Unofficial results of by-polls in the NA-28 Bunir constituency on Tuesday declared the Awami National Party (ANP) candidate had been successful.

The unofficial results said ANP candidate Istiqbal Khan defeated Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) aspirant Bakht Jehan Khan by around 500 votes.

The by-election in Shal Bandai union council was postponed after a suicide attack on a polling station during the voting held on December 28 killed 41 people.

The seat had been vacated following the death of ANP parliamentarian Abdul Mateen Khan. Istiqbal is the late ANP leader’s son. ANP Information Secretary Arbab Tahir told Daily Times that their candidate was leading the vote count by around 500 votes.

Meanwhile, the JI rejected the poll results, alleging the election had been rigged and the party would take the matter to court.

JI provincial Secretary General Shabir Ahmad Khan said large scale rigging had been reported, adding they would protest against the result today (Wednesday) in Shal Bandai.

 

[RabzonKhan]

TTP threatens to kill more ANP leaders

* Baitullah aide claims responsibility for attack on ANP lawmaker

Staff Report
February 13, 2009

PESHAWAR: A close aide of Baitullah Mehsud and senior commander of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on Awami National Party (ANP) MPA Alam Zeb Khan in Peshawar.

“We carried out this attack and will continue such attacks on ANP leaders in future,” Hakeemullah Mehsud, who heads the TTP in Orakzai, Kurram and Khyber tribal regions, said in telephone calls to media offices in Peshawar.

Alam Zeb Khan died of excessive injuries when a powerful bomb went off near his car in Peshawar on Wednesday. He became the first target of the Taliban since the Pukhtoon nationalist party took power last year. The ANP became a major target of the outlawed TTP after its peace deal with Maulana Fazlullah in Swat collapsed and a military operation began to target the Taliban.

Asfandyar Wali Khan, central ANP president, survived a suicide attack on Eid Day at his Wali Bagh residence last year, while relatives of several ANP MPAs from Swat have also been targeted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti announced Rs 5 million for the grieved family and recommended the federal government’s higher gallantry award for the deceased MPA. The CM’s Gallantry Medal, along with Rs 500,000 in cash, was also announced for the late MPA’s family.

The chief minister assured the family members that the ANP government would bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice.