ANP wants Fata merger into NWFP

PESHAWAR - Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan has expressed satisfaction over the ongoing military action against Taliban militants. He was briefing the media persons after chairing the ANP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Thursday. The committee discussed the current political and economic situation in the country in detail. He said that according to his information most of the hideouts and compounds of the militants had been destroyed or razed to the ground, and now the militants were on the run and desperately looking for shelter. He also expressed hope that the remaining militants and their commandeers would soon either be arrested or eliminated. Commenting further on the ongoing operation, Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali said, We have done a lot in dislodging terrorist networks and now it is the turn of the international community to do more, Asfandyar said. ANP chief said that his partys CEC had expressed satisfaction over the performance of the NWFP government and appreciated its strategy for handling the situation. At this stage, he said, there was no need for further dialogue with the militants as Their (Taliban) agenda is different. He said that soon after coming into power, the government had invited the militants to have dialogue and they accepted all their demands and announced to enforce of Nizam-e-Adal Regulation. But after the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adal Regulation, the Taliban militants slipped into Buner. He said that after that, the government was left with no other option but to take constitutional steps for ensuring writ of law. He said people from all over the country, particularly from NWFP, had unanimously endorsed the use of constitutional means against Taliban militants. Earlier, at the very outset of its proceedings, the ANP CEC paid glowing tributes to the people of Swat in particular and rest of the region in general for rendering tremendous sacrifices in the war against militancy and terrorism. He said that all the people whether activists of political forces, personnel of the law enforcing agencies, employees of government or civilians, all rendered sacrifices for the better future of the country and the nation. Now the responsibility rests with the international community to fulfil its promises and commitments regarding reconstruction of the affected areas. APP adds: The central working committee of Awami National Party has suggested integration of FATA in the Frontier Province and for giving representation to the tribal people in the Provincial Assembly. Addressing a press conference here at the Chief Ministers House on Thursday, President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan outlined the salient features of the marathon session of the Central Working Committee of the party and said that FATA should be brought into the mainstream of national development to end their sense of deprivation and as such the ANP fully support their integration into the Frontier Province and their representation in the Provincial legislature. The ANP Chief said that the government should hold strong writ in the tribal region since peace was essential for socio-economic development of hitherto backward and neglected parts of FATA. He said during insurgency in FATA the cherished goal of development could not be achieved.

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