Prompt action: ‘National Action Plan should be implemented’

Asfandyar Wali Khan lashes out at provincial, federal governments for neglecting IDPs.

CHARSADDA:

Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan in true letter and spirit to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Speaking to workers at a party meeting held to observe Bacha Khan’s death anniversary at Wali Bagh in Charsadda on Monday, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said although the security of Army Public School (APS) was in the hands of the army, the fact cannot be denied that terrorists were present in Peshawar — a responsibility which falls on the PTI-led provincial government. “Security is the responsibility of the provincial government.”

Asfandyar also criticised Imran Khan for getting married before the Chehlum of APS victims. He demanded a judicial commission be formed to probe the APS attack, saying such acts will otherwise continue to occur if they are not investigated properly.



Speaking about Pak-Afghan relations, Asfandyar said both countries should resolve issues with understanding as terrorism is a mutual problem. He said Bacha Khan and Wali Khan had predicted the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, saying those who had dubbed them agents of Russia then have come to believe that it was Pakistan’s fault that it interfered.

Asfandyar shared a quote of Wali Khan with party workers on the occasion: “When you send someone bombs, don’t expect flowers in return.”

The ANP chief added, “No one agreed with us when we said the Afghan war is ours too, but now after the APS attack, everyone has realised this.”

About the internally displaced persons (IDP) of North Waziristan, Asfandyar said they were fighting the war for the nation but PTI and PML-N had ignored them and were fighting among themselves. “IDPs should be repatriated and the infrastructure of their areas should be reconstructed at the earliest.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2015.