ANP assails KP, federal govts for failure to curb terrorism

NOWSHERA: Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Wednesday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial government had completely failed to maintain law and order and left province at the mercy of terrorists.

Speaking at a meeting of the ANP here, he said that people in the province were being severely affected by ongoing terrorism, while the PTI and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had launched a movement to conquer Islamabad.

Provincial vice-president Salahuddin, provincial members and others also addressed the meeting.Mian Iftikhar claimed that Bushra Bibi, the spouse of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, opposition leader Omar Ayub and others had abandoned their workers and fled the scene when the police and law enforcers started a crackdown.

According to him, the provincial government was focused on the release of Imran Khan, while the federal government wanted to keep him in prison and in this struggle, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was suffering the most.

Mian Iftikhar said Pakistan’s friendly relations with China, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route were being sabotaged by terrorist activities in Kurram and other merged districts.

He said that sectarian violence was being used as a ploy for this terrorism, but the purpose behind it was to take control of the resources in Kurram. He came down hard on the federal government for its failure to curb terrorism and restore a lasting peace in the province.

Mian Iftihar criticised the Centre for its lethargic attitude towards the National Finance Award and implementation of the 18th Amendment and inaction over growing lawlessness in the province.

The nationalist leader urged the federal government to focus on peace and national interests, saying that the first priority should be peace followed by a review of domestic and foreign policies.

He lamented that schools and hospitals were being destroyed and people were being forced to flee their homes. He accused both the governments of being indifferent to the sufferings of the Pakhtuns.