Asfandyar slams security withdrawal from ANP leaders

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP)’s central president Asfandyar Wali Khan has taken strong notice of the security withdrawal from Ameer Haider Hoti and Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

In a press statement on Sunday, he warned that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari would be held responsible if any harm was done to the ANP leadership.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had taken back security and police guards from the ANP leadership at a time when terrorists were resurfacing and regrouping in the province.

“The ANP leaders and workers had rendered great sacrifices for the peace of the soil and could not be threatened or terrorized to change their stance on terrorism and militancy,” he said.

The ANP chief recalled that Amir Haider Hoti had served as chief minister of the province while Mian Iftikhar lost his lone son to the terrorists when he was the provincial minister.

Asfandyar Wali said providing protection and security to the citizens was the main responsibility of the state and the present government.

He said ANP had fought against terrorists for the state and soil and therefore the party leadership was still the target of militants.

Asfandyar Wali warned that the party would lodge the first information report against the chief minister and IGP if any of their leaders was attacked by militants.

He said the ANP had a principled stand on the Afghanistan crisis and wanted Afghan-owned and Afghan-led negotiations for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

Asfandyar Wali said the ANP had always opposed war, violence and terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan, advocating that a peaceful Afghanistan was in the interest of a strong and stable Pakistan.