"All political parties should own this ongoing war against terrorism and militancy because it could not be eliminated without their support and all of us need to sit together to work on a single-point agenda, ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali told a press conference after chairing his paty's consultative body meeting here on Tuesday.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, ANP Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, information secretary Zahid Khan, ANP president Sindh, Shahi Ali Saeed, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other ANP central and provincial leaders were present.
Dispelling the impression about ANP not taking part in the upcoming general election, he said elections after assassination of its Senior Minister, he said the ANP will fully take part in election. He added that his party would not suspend ongoing election campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and elsewhere in the country. "We will continue our fight against terrorism and extremism, but will not bow before the terrorists. The ANP and its workers are ready to give more sacrifices for the cause of peace and get rid the Pakhtuns soil from extremism", he reiterated. "Democracy can only be survived, if system will remain intact in the country", he viewed.
However, he said ANP is not only responsible to save the vary existence of the state. He viewed that the targeted terrorism would not be ended by vanishing of ANP leaders and workers in the country. "I appeal to all political parties to come up with a joint strategy for sole cause, which was not a single party issue", he reinforced.
"We had accorded peace agreements by following the policy of non-violence, but the intentions of militants were not to abide on them. "There will not be existed state within state, those challenging the writ of the government must be dealt with iron hands", ANP Chief maintained. "We are still ready to hold talks with top leadership of militants group "Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan" (TTP)", he said.
"I asked, if those political forces, who were condemning the drone attacks as against sovereignty and violation of airspace, but why they are remained silent about infiltration of militants groups from the border region", he questioned. He said government will go after the sanctuaries of militants, existed elsewhere in this region. He said that militants' attacks were also threats for vary existence of the state, which must be controlled.
ANP has extended special thanks to all parties and other people who joined in our grief and shown sympathy over martyrdom of its Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour and other workers. He also appreciated the workers for following the directives of party and not created any disturbance after the assassination of the senior minister. He also urged the media, and people from different walk of life to must play their role for establishment of sustainable peace and elimination of terrorism from the Pakhtuns' soil. Due to ongoing war against terrorism, he said the country was passing through critical situation of its history.
When asked about the delay in elections, he said that any such move will further deteriorate situation in the country. We are on hit list of terrorists, despite that demanding for holding elections as per schedule. He said that ANP will fully participate in next general elections, and will continuously render sacrifices of leaders and workers.
About the military offensive in North-Waziristan, he said there will need a political ownership for launching military assault in tribal region, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is ready to take action against terrorists everywhere existed in other parts of the province. Replying to another query, he said that all system will not blame to corrupt, but there are a few people involved in corrupt practices in the country.
Meanwhile, he said the consultative body has approved the appointment of elder son of slain ANP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Haroon Ahmad Bilour as special advisor to Chief Minister, and a summary will be moved to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor shortly in this regard. Explaining other decision of consultative body, he said the body has strongly opposed the drone attacks, termed that it was against the sovereignty of the state. The meeting decided, he said. the ANP-led coalition government will go after sanctuaries of terrorists instead of defending to doorsteps and streets.