PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan has condemned firing of teargas shells and pelting stones at the vehicle of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday and termed it an act of vengeance.

Asfandyar Wali Khan in a statement issued here condemned police for pelting stones and firing teargas shells and use of violence against a party leader and workers. Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vehicle was hit with teargas shells and stones when she was appearing in National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday morning in the presence of the party workers.

Asfandyar Wali Khan termed police manhandling of PML-N leader and workers an example of the “Niazi government’s dictatorship”. He said that such ill-treatment of political opponents was undemocratic and looked more like an act of ‘political revenge’. He also termed NAB just a ‘drama’ saying it needed to be stopped as appearance of politicians and such ill-treatment by police was nothing but violence and ANP condemned all kinds of violence.

Meanwhile, according to another press release, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan met Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss political situation and role of opposition to ensure rights of the provinces.

Aimal Wali Khan during his meeting with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto called for unity among opposition parties and convening a conference of all opposition parties to discuss matters of provincial autonomy and provinces’ share in NFC.

ANP also inaugurated a Khudai Khidmatgar organisation under the Bacha Khan Trust on Tuesday. The organisation would help people during man-made disasters and emergencies, said a press statement.

The senior vice president of the part, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, inaugurated the Khudai Khidmatgar organisation that would have its office in Bacha Khan Markaz. ANP would make efforts to extend the organisation to other parts of the country and spread the message of Khudai Khidmatgar Bacha Khan, said Mr Hoti.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2020