SWABI, Jan 26: The women wing leaders of Awami National Party have supported the call for holding meaningful dialogue with Taliban for restoration of peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

They were speaking during a function held at the residence of MPA Yasmeen Jasim here on Saturday to observe the 25th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and seventh of Khan Abdul Wali Khan.

It was perhaps the first time that the ANP women wing came out openly in support of the government-Taliban dialogue, a policy adopted by the ruling party soon after the assassination of senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour on December 21 last year. It was also for the first time that the women wing observed the death anniversaries of their leaders in a separate function.

ANP women wing provincial president Shagufta Bibi said that their party had a history of struggle for peace and nobody could ignore Bacha Khan’s services in this regard. She said that they were proud of Bacha Khan whose role in empowerment and awakening of Pakhtuns was remarkable, she said.

Ms Shagufta said that Pakhtuns were again passing through a critical period and their party had been working out a peace plan acceptable to all stallholders.

MNA Jamila Gilani said that women had played their due role in the independence movement and it was Bacha Khan who encouraged and educated them. She said that the ANP women wing had upheld the same enthusiasm and supported their leadership and lawmakers to take result-oriented steps for restoration of peace.

MPA Yasmeen said that situation in the region was still volatile and the Pakhtun community had been fighting their war of survival.

“It does not mean that we are in favour of war. In fact, we have been advocating for peace from the day first when we assumed power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” she said.

She said that the ANP’s policy of supporting govt-Taliban dialogue could lead to restoration of peace. She said that it was time for peace talks both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Other women speakers called on the participants to get ready for the upcoming general election, as participation of women would play a key role in determining results of the polls.