NOWSHERA: A senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain has termed Daesh or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) more dangerous than al-Qaeda.
“All forces should unite on a single platform to block the way of Daesh. If it was not done, we will face consequences worse than those experienced by the countrymen in the past,” said Mian Iftikhar while speaking at a function in Dag Ismailkhel in Nowshera on Friday.
A former minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Iqbal Hussain Khattak, Dr Haider Zaman, Jibran Khattak, an independent member of the Cantonment Board Nowshera Muhammad Ismail, minority member Stephen Ghauri and a Pakistan People’s Party office-bearer Afzal Khan joined the ANP on the occasion along with family members and supporters.
Mian Iftikhar said those who had launched al-Qaeda had now propelled Daesh, which was getting funding from 40 countries. He believed that Daesh was gathering strength in Afghanistan.
The ANP leader said the country was passing through a critical phase of its history. “The terror threat is looming over the region again. All the political and religious forces along with other powers should huddle together to counter this threat,” said Mian Iftikhar.
Enumerating the peace efforts made by his party, Mian Iftikhar said ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan had played a role in removing misunderstanding between Pakistani and Afghan leaders.
“The successful talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Paris (France) pointed to this role,” said the ANP leader.
Mian Iftikhar said the Afghan president would soon visit Pakistan. “The Pakistani rulers should respond to this visit,” he suggested.
Talking of the peace talks in Afghanistan, the ANP leader said that the dialogue process which was disrupted due to the death of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar should resume now.
“Pakistan should facilitate the negotiations and China should become a guarantor for that to ensure peace in the region,” he proposed.
The ANP leader came down hard on the PTI-led coalition government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and claimed that it had miserably failed to deliver. He also accused the provincial government of victimising political rivals.
Mian Iftikhar said the PTI leadership has soft corner for terrorists. “Imran Khan had even suggested opening of Taliban office. How would they [PTI leaders] stand up to these elements? ” he added.
The ANP leader said people were sick of the PTI-led government. “Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has greed for power. He is a turncoat and joins any political party that he thinks will get power,” he said.
Mian Iftikhar supported the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Nobody should have any objection if the tribal people want to be part of this province, he added.
Speaking as a chief guest, ANP provincial president and former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti said that his party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan met the prime minister and won the right of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that of Balochistan in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project. He said the future belongs to ANP.
Haider Hoti said Imran Khan had made lofty claims to grab power for the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but forgot all those pledges after forming government in the province. He said the people of this province were repenting of the decision to vote for the PTI in the 2013 general elections.
Other leaders of the ANP, including Malik Juma Khan, Khushal Khan, Shahid Khan Khattak and Sardar Hussain Babak also spoke on the occasion.