‘Strategic’ talks: Haji Adeel to represent ANP in place of Asfandyar Wali Khan

11 parties have so far agreed to attend the all-parties conference.

PESHAWAR:

Awami National Party’s (ANP) former chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has excused himself from participating in the all-parties conference (APC) scheduled for September 9 in Islamabad.

People familiar with the matter said Haji Adeel will be attending the meeting in place of Asfandyar Wali.

The APC is the federal government’s initiative on taking all political parties on board to devise a strategy on curbing terrorism. So far, 11 parties have agreed to attend the meeting which is likely to be held at the PM Secretariat.

Party members told The Express Tribune that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar phoned party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan late on Thursday night to invite him to the APC. Asfandyar, however, regretted the invitation and said he is not authorised to attend since the party’s structure has been dissolved for reorganisation and he is no longer the chairman.



Meanwhile, Senator Zahid Khan said the party has not received any formal invitation for Haji Adeel as yet. Adeel is also the chairman of the organising party.

ANP members said the PML-N should have taken all mainstream political parties in confidence before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address to the country. In his speech late last month, Sharif called for a dialogue with militants to end the resilient insurgency, but warned that his government could also use force to stamp out militancy from the country.

ANP senior leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the APC is a good move for the restoration of peace. “Our party is in favour of dialogue for restoration of durable peace in the country,” he said.

Another party leader, wishing not to be named, also seconded the idea of the APC for chalking out a strategy to quell terrorism.

Taliban are yet to announce their authorised representative for starting the dialogue, while the PML-N government wants talks without any further delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2013.