Mian Iftikhar says ‘tug-of-war’ not in country’s interest

NOWSHERA: Awami National Party (ANP) senior leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Wednesday that the ongoing “tug-of-war” between the establishment and judiciary was not in the interest of the country and nation, urging the two to remain in their respective constitutional domains.

“The time has come to revisit the foreign and internal policies. The establishment and judiciary must end the ongoing tussle for the sake of country and nation,” he said, adding that free and transparent general elections were needed for the integrity and solidarity of the country.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of the 14th death anniversary of his son Mian Rashid Hussain Shaheed, the ANP leader said that his party leaders and workers had rendered matchless sacrifices during the war on terror but never bowed to the terrorists to free the Pakhtun soil from the menace of terrorism and militancy.

Mian Rashid Hussain, the lone son of Mian Iftikhar, was martyred by the terrorists in his native Pabbi town of the Nowshera district during the peak of terrorism and militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier, Mian Iftikhar along with party leaders and workers visited the mausoleum of Mian Rashid Hussain and placed floral wreath on the grave and offered fateha for the departed soul.Mian Iftikhar said: He had lost his only son to terrorism. “I would have sacrificed all if I had more sons for the motherland,” he said but deplored that despite all sacrifices terrorism existed in the country.

The ANP leader lamented that terrorist activities continued in the country unabated, target killings were going on and enforced disappearances were at their peak, which was a matter of grave concern.

He said the unwise policies of the successive governments had done a huge loss to the country’s economy and those suffering ultimately were the poor people, who were reeling under growing poverty and galloping price hike.

Mian Iftikhar opposed the proposed ban on political parties and the US alleged interference in the region for vested interest.Fearing the imposition of emergency or martial law, he advised the power that be, that political leaders should be given the opportunity to steer the country of the prevailing economic and political quagmire.

He urged the rulers and security institutions to launch a crackdown against the militant organisations operating in Punjab, saying then the peace would be automatically restored in the entire country after that.

The ANP leader talked about the Bannu incident and suggested to the government to show seriousness to resolve the issues by purging the area of militants and restoring peace or else the situation would go to the point of no return.He said that the government and the institutions had lost trust of the people and now they must revisit their policies about terrorism and peace in the country, particularly in KP.

The nationalist leader also demanded accountability of the past rulers and officials for alleging the resettling over 40,000 militants in KP. “The situation in KP is deteriorating with each passing day but so-called international powers are being blamed for it.,” he said, adding that the masses could not be deceived anymore.

He said that work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was going on in full swing in Punjab but in KP, militants and terrorists were roaming freely without being challenged by the government.