Saturday, January 23, 2016

Pakistan - ‘Failed foreign policy behind growing terrorism attacks’

Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Friday said the country’s failed foreign policy was to blame for the growing incidence of terrorism and extremism.
He was addressing a meeting held at the party’s central secretariat to condole the victims of Bacha Khan University Charsadda terrorist attacks.
A statement issued by the party said the condolence meeting was attended by a large number of people and ANP central leaders, who offered Fateha for those lost life in the attack and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.
Mian Iftikhar said terrorism could not be eliminated from the country by conducting a military operation against militants in North Waziristan Agency only.
He said the Bacha Khan University came under attack because ANP stance about terrorism and extremism was very clear.
The ANP leader said terrorists attacked the Charsadda university to keep parents from sending children to the university.

ANP holds condolence meeting for Charsadda attack victims


He asked the provincial apex committee to review the ‘ill-planned’ security arrangements in the province.
Mian Iftikhar said terrorism couldn’t be eliminated from the country without implementing all points of the National Action Plan.
He demanded a crackdown on 70 banned terrorist outfits across the country, including Punjab, and warned if that didn’t happen, the war against terrorism won’t reach its logical end.
“We should stop differentiating between the good and bad Taliban and take indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups,” he said.
He said the number of attackers on the Bacha Khan University was more than four. He asked the government to remove confusion about it.
ANP MNA Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, who was also in attendance, said the federal and provincial governments had no right to stay in power after the massacre of Pakhtuns.
“The governments should step down if they cannot protect the life of the citizens,” he said, adding that Pakhtuns had been suffering from the war against terrorism.
Bilour said intelligence agencies had issued an alert about the Charsadda university attack but the government didn’t take proper security measures to prevent the killing of students and teachers.
He said the country’s powerful institutions should stop interfering in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries otherwise peace couldn’t be restored in Pakistan.
The ANP leader said the successive governments had patronised non-state actors in the country.
He said the government should crush those believing in the killing of civilians and should develop friendly ties with all neighbouring countries.

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