Asfandyar confines himself to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali has apparently restricted his movement, like some other politicians, in view of the persistent security threat he faces for his party’s stance against the militancy, The News learnt here Thursday.

After returning from abroad, the first major event he presided over was the tribal jirga in Peshawar on October 8. The next day he chaired a party meeting and then left for Islamabad and continues to live here.

The other day, he chaired a party consultative session here, which was participated among others, by ANP NWFP President Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Central Information Secretary Senator Zahid Khan and MNA Bushra Gohar.

Senior Vice-President Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, when contacted on telephone for his comment, told this correspondent that the party president was staying back in the federal capital because of his hectic engagements here.

He pointed out that Asfandyar was to be part of the parliament’s joint sitting on October 26 and then regular session of the National Assembly, which may start from November 02. Moreover some important foreign dignitaries are likely to visit Islamabad. “You should remember, he is Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,” he quipped.

Asked whether or not his prolonged stay was because of security reasons, the ANP legislator counter-questioned whether it was proper that this question should be asked in the given scene. “Many of us face security threats, but life goes on. Maulana Fazlur Rehman moves in a bullet-proof vehicle so do many others like ex-interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao,” he said.

The ANP leader made it clear that his party would push ahead with anti-militancy, which was reflective of the nation’s sentiments and that no threat could deter it from pursuing the agenda.

However, he vehemently rejected the impression that the party head had confined himself to Islamabad because of the ongoing military operation in Waziristan and its possible fall out owing to his party’s position on the matter.

Asfandyar had survived a suicide attack in October last year on the first day of Eidul Azha at his guesthouse (Hujra) in his hometown Charsadda. Speaking on the occasion to media, he had reiterated his resolve not to surrender to extremists.

“Naturally, one has to be cautious. ANP has a categorical position on the menace of terrorism and militancy. Hardly any other party head speaks so openly and truly against this horrible challenge as does Asfandyar Wali,” remarked an ANP member of the National Assembly who did not want to be identified.

ANP’s Spokesman Arbab Muhammad Tahir from the Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar, when approached on phone, confirmed that the party leader had left for Islamabad in second week of October and was staying there.

After presiding over a party meeting at the Bacha Markaz, the party head had gone to Islamabad and had not returned since, he explained. He mainly attributed the party chief’s engagements for his prolonged stay and also pointed out that ANP was the main target of militants for its policy on Malakand and now on Waziristan.

“We have been calling for an early military action against militants in Waziristan,” he said. Arbab Tahir noted ANP had lost well over 200 party office-bearers and workers during the two years or so in bomb blasts and suicide attacks.