ANP leader claims govt trying to release his son’s killer

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP)’s central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Monday accused the government of making efforts to release the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Karachi leader who had confessed to have killed his only son Mian Rashid Hussain.

The ANP leader said that during interrogation Abdul Qayyum Mehsud had confessed to his involvement in the assassination of Mian Rashid Hussain and had also been identified in the identity parade. “Hundreds of Khudai Khidmatgars have been killed but for the first time a murderer admitted his crime. However, the government seems to be adamant to secure his bail,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain told reporters at a press conference here on Monday. The murderer is confessing to his crime but the government functionaries are visiting the courts to defend the criminal and secure his bail, he claimed. The ANP leader said he had been warned of consequences for pursuing the case. “I am being told that they are dangerous people and could create problems for my family,” Mian Iftikhar said. He added that he had no interest in life after the martyrdom of his son, adding that he was not worried for his life and was seeking justice.

He urged Pakistanis to support him in getting justice for his martyred son. He said that he had received Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his stand against terrorism and “therefore I should not be frightened.” Mian Iftikhar said that those serving him court summons tell him to avoid creating trouble for him. He said the threats to his life still existed but he will continue his struggle for justice for his son and rights for his people. “Even now the militants visit my ancestral area and collect information about me,” he claimed. The ANP general secretary alleged that instead of implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) to take the accused to the task the government was making efforts for the release of the arrested man. He said the attacker might have committed the crime with the connivance of people from Pabbi, Mian Iftikhar Hussain’s hometown where Mian Rashid Hussain and his friend Mian Amjad Hussain were attacked in July 2010.

“The government should have arrested their accomplices by now as it was a well-coordinated attack and could not have been carried out without proper preparation,” he argued.

The ANP leader thanked his party workers for being present at the court in Mardan today as he could not attend the hearing due to his already scheduled press conference about the party elections.