Fresh wave of terror: ANP observes Black Day across KP

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) observed Black Day across the province on Monday to protest at fresh wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Kurram tragedy. A big rally as staged in the provincial capital. Local leaders staged protests in the districts.

ANP Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain addressed the protest rally in front of Peshawar Press Club.

Speaking to the protesters, he said that terrorism was a conspiracy against Pakhtuns. “Terrorism is being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of an organized conspiracy,” said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who lost his only son, Mian Rashid ZHussain, to terrorism in the past.

He said that international forces and their facilitators were behind the ongoing terrorism.The ANP leader said that efforts were being made to turn the tension in Kurran into a sectarian strife.

He said that the purpose of the plot was to displace the people of Parachinar and seize their land.Mian Iftikhar Hussain flayed the government for not providing proper security to the convoys in Kurram. He said those targeting innocent and defenceless people could not be called human beings.

The ANP leader questioned the lack of action against those involved in the terror incidents.He said that his party expressed solidarity with the people of Parachinar during these challenging times. “We must unite as Pakhtuns to confront ongoing conspiracies and terrorism,” he added.

Mian Iftikhar lamented that the state continued to play the role of a silent spectator amid the unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.He criticized the provincial government for abandoning the people of the province. “The provincial government has abandoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while engaging in protests.”

The ANP leader said the ongoing tussle between the central and provincial governments was harming only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.He said that the province was deprived of NFC Award funds and dues, but no one seemed to care for that, adding that the 18th Constitutional Amendment was not being implemented.

Mian Iftikhar said almost all districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were affected by insecurity and terrorism. “Terrorism is aimed at further seizing our resources,” he alleged.“The people of Kurram must resist the conspiracies and stop further bloodshed”, he said, adding that “if this fire was not extinguished now, it would lead to destruction.”

The ANP leader said Shia and Sunni communities had coexisted peacefully in Parachinar for decades and questioned, “Why didn’t these conflicts arise earlier?”.He said that those who sidelined ANP from the assemblies must not think they could sell this land.

Mian Iftikhar said the current wave of terrorism was the outcome of agreements made in the past. He alleged the merged districts were handed over to terrorists through these agreements.

He said those who made a deal with terrorists should be brought to justice.

Mian Iftikhar said an ANP’s peace delegation, led by senior party leader Baz Muhammad Khan, would soon visit Parachinar. The delegation will meet all parties and play its role in finding a peaceful solution, he added.

He said that a peace march against terrorism would be staged across the province as well. The protest rally was also addressed other party leaders, including Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan, Sardar Hussain Babak, Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Salahuddin Khan, Arbab Rashid Sameen.