ANP leader calls for blanket action against terrorists

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has expressed concern over increasing incidents of target killing and stressed the need for indiscriminate action against terrorists in all parts of the country, including Islamabad and Punjab, to ensure protection of people and restoration of peace.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the ANP leader condemned the target killing of polio supervisor Dr Zaka in Khazana area of the provincial capital a day earlier.He said that target killing was a heinous kind of terrorism. “It is even worse than suicide bombing as in target killing the ‘hired assassin’ remains safe, while in suicide attack the killer is also blown up.

Mian Iftikhar was of the opinion that the well-coordinated action should be taken against all the banned organisations. “Any lethargy can result in regaining strength by terrorists,” he said.

“It is strange that some of banned outfits collect donations even in the federal capital and those at the helm of affairs are watching them as silent spectators,” he added.He said it was time for the government to own a clear and effective strategy against the terrorist organisations. He also blasted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government for leaving the province at the mercy of target killers and terrorists.

The ANP leader said that the government had failed to implement the 20-point National Action Plan in letter and spirit. “This is the reason that the menace of terrorism could not be overcome so far,” he maintained.

He said that the terrorists had no religion or ethnicity. “Therefore, indiscriminate action should be taken against them. The government should fulfill its responsibility to take action against the terrorists and target killers without any discrimination in all parts of the country,” he added.

“If there is any hurdle in implementation of the National Action Plan, it should be brought before people. The difference between good and bad Taliban should be done away with and all of them should be dealt with sternly,” the ANP leader added.

He said that currently over 70 militant organisations were active in Punjab and strict action should be taken against them.