ANP announces campaign for coalition against militancy

The Awami National Party has decided to launch a campaign to build a coalition of political parties and state institutions against militancy after losing senior party leader Bashir Bilour in a suicide attack by Taliban last Saturday.

"If the experience of recent past is anything to go by, the terrorists will not forgive any political or religious party, even those who have literally acted as supporters or apologists of the terrorists. It will be an exercise in futility to appease the terrorists," the ANP president, Asfandyar Wali Khan, said during a news conference after chairing party think-tank meeting held to take stock of Bashir Bilour's assassination. Bashir Bilour died of wounds following a suicide attack on him in old Peshawar city on Saturday. Seven others, including his personal secretary Noor Muhammad and police officer Abdul Sattar were also killed in the attack. The think-tank meeting of the party authorised Asfandyar Wali to contact coalition partners, political parties and all the states institutions to share ANP's concerns with them and prepare a decisive line of action against militancy. "His blood along with the blood of all other martyrs will not go in vain and it will (also) go a long way in ridding the country of the scourge of extremism and terrorism," Asfandyar Wali, flanked by party leaders, said. "We shall continue non-violent struggle against extremism and terrorism." The ANP president reiterated his party's stand that it would support negotiations with all those elements that recognised the writ of the state and renounce violence. "Those who are not prepared to do so should face effective and meaningful actions," he warned. Asfandyar said the ANP was of the opinion that all political forces should express "zero tolerance" towards all volitions of the country's sovereignty and integrity. "We are opposed to the drone strikes and have raised our voice against it. However, we are also opposed to terrorists, both individuals and networks, within the country and from other countries who have made sanctuaries on our soil." He demanded a change in the government's strategy for fighting militancy saying, "Instead of defending ourselves at our doorsteps and in the streets we should go after the terrorists' sanctuaries. We should evolve a national consensus on a comprehensive strategy for defeating terrorist outfits that are out to destroy our state and society." The ANP president complained that the Pakhtuns in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bearing the brunt of terrorism. "Why is the rest of the country not effectively joining this struggle? Is it only the struggle of Pakhtuns who are being killed on both sides of the Durand Line?" he lamented. "We appeal to all the party workers and sympathisers to be patient and not to be provoked by the provocations of the anti-states elements who want to ignite (a) civil war."