ANP protests target-killings & forced disappearances

PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday staged a protest against growing lawlessness, target-killing and forced disappearances.

The members of the Pakhtun nationalist party’s Peshawar and City District chapters gathered at the Peshawar Press Club to register anger at the above-mentioned issues.

The provincial senior-vice president of the party Khushdil Khan Advocate, Culture Secretary Khadim Hussian, Members Provincial Assembly Nisar Momand and Salahuddin Khan Momand led the protest. The office-bearers of other wings of the party were in attendance as well.

Among the protesters were the family members of those who had been picked up by force from Mohamad and other KP districts.

The protesters were carrying placards and portraits of the missing persons. They raised slogans against lawlessness, target-killings and demanded the early and safe recovery of those who were the victims of enforced disappearances.

Speaking on the occasion, the ANP leaders said the forced disappearances of the missing persons and their non-recovery pointed to the failure of the government.

They said if those who had disappeared by force had any charges against them, they should be produced in the court and prosecuted as per the law but should be released forthwith if they were innocent. “Forced disappearances will not be tolerated at any cost,” said one of the speakers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday staged a protest rally against the target killing incidents, non-recovery of missing persons and Janikhel incident.

Led by Syed Jamal Bacha, acting district president, district general secretary Haroon Khan, women wing president Shazia Aurangzeb, Tehsil Mardan president Abass Sani and other office- bearers, the protesters gathered outside the MArdan Press Club.

A large number of office-bearers and workers from different union councils attended the protest rally. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. Addressing the protest rally, the speakers demanded the government to recover the missing persons.

The speakers added that the target killing incidents were occurring only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“We will never allow the genocidal plan of Pakhtuns to succeed. Pakhtuns are being killed on their own land,” said one of the speakers.

The speakers also condemned the recent attack on cops at Rustam in which two constables were martyred. Later on the protesters dispersed peacefully.