ANP demands inquiry into TTP’s return

Says President Alvi ordered release of 102 hardcore terrorists

PESHAWAR:

Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has said that his party would soon move the Supreme Court against PTI chairman Imran Khan for releasing terrorists under a treaty with TTP.

Addressing a press conference at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar, Wali said that his party demands a judicial inquiry into the terrorists’ return. He also announced that his party would not take part in the by-elections. “All those people are responsible for this mess who supported terrorism in the name of jihad for the past 70 years. They celebrated the fall of Kabul in Pakistan. Those are equally responsible who kept their silence while all this was happening,” he remarked. “The prime minister, chief justice and army chief should explain this to the Pakhtuns as terrorism in Afghanistan was given a religious touch by declaring it jihad,” he maintained.

Wali said that President Arif Alvi ordered the release of 102 most wanted terrorists who have rejoined the TTP, adding that 18 funerals took place only in Charsadda district alone. “We have never ever demanded postponement of elections. When Haroon Bilour was martyred even then we didn’t demand postponement of elections,” he noted, saying that IGP and CCPO were constantly changing their statement as first they claimed that an official vehicle had been used to transport the attacker but now they are changing their statements.

“Even TTP claimed responsibility for the attack but they later disowned it under pressure. Now they are claiming that mosques are not their target but the fact is that they targeted mosques in the past too,” he observed, adding that attack at police headquarters was no ordinary matter.

We stand with our police force in this hour of grief, he added.

Wali said that in the nine-year rule, PTI weakened the police force and strengthened the TTP.

“PTI took constitutional powers from the chief minister and gave it to IGP which is a blunder and need be reversed. Police should be given more funds too,” he added, saying that ANP will participate in the peace march on February 4.

He hit out at the PTI for only focusing on the arrest of Fawad Chaudary and Sheikh Rashid.