PESHAWAR, Aug 18 People across the Frontier province and tribal areas on Monday celebrated the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf.

Jubilant workers, lawyers, civil society activities and traders distributed sweets and termed it a good omen for the country. In some areas people resorted to aerial firing.

In Peshawar, people, most of them political activists, came out in groups from different localities and raised slogans against Mr Musharraf. They marched on roads in Qisakhwani and Khyber bazaars.

People in the Bara tehsil of the Khyber Agency reportedly resorted to aerial firing, distributed sweets and congratulated each others.

Workers of the Islami Jamiat Talaba and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf Students Federation took to the streets in Peshawar's Hashtnagri area.

Women activists of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, led by party's provincial general secretary MPA Shazia Aurangzeb Khan, also gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club. Workers of the People's Students Federation, Pakhtun Students Federation, Muslim Students Federation-N also held rallies outside the press club.

In a statement, NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti termed the resignation of Pervez Musharraf a victory of democracy and said “The step has ended political uncertainty, which will prove a good omen for the nation.”

He said the decision had paved the way for supremacy of the Constitution and parliament.

NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussein said Musharraf's resignation was a great achievement of democratic forces.

Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) leader MPA Sikandar Sherpao termed it an appropriate decision at a right time. The country, he said, was faced with numerous and it could not afford the politics of confrontation.

NWFP Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq called for arrest of Mr Musharraf and his trial under Article 6 of the Constitution. “Musharraf arrested innocent people, sold them to Zionist forces and violated the Constitution,” he alleged. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) spokesman Abdul Jalik Jan asked the government to abandon Pervez Musharraf's polices and stop military operations in the NWFP and Fata.

PML-N general secretary Iqbal Zafar Jhaghra said no good could be expected from dictators and hoped that people's problems would now be solved.

Provincial PML-Q vice-president Ihsanullah said the government should focus on people's problems and resolve lingering issues.

Provincial ANP president Afrasyab Khattak said the resignation would lead to strengthening of democratic institutions and end to confrontational politics.

SWABI PTI's provincial president Asad Qaisar welcomed the resignation and said a real test of the coalition partners had begun now.

He demanded reinstatement of deposed judges.

MARDAN A groups of lawyers held a demonstration at the district courts chowk, marched through various bazaars and held a rally at the Pakistan Chowk to express jubilation over Mr Musharraf's resignation. They also distributed sweets.

HARIPUR Workers of the PPP, led by MPA Dr Faiza Rasheed, danced to drum beats and chanted anti-Musharraf slogans.

They marched from the Sheranwala Gate chowk to the Panian chowk.

BATKHELA People expressed their pleasure over Mr Musharraf's resignation, distributed sweets and resorted to aerial firing.

Malakand Bar Association president Shafiullah Khan, MNA Lal Mohammad Khan, Senator Sahibzada Khalid Jan, NWFP Minister for Finance Mohammad Humayun Khan, PML-Q leader Mohammad Ayub Khan welcomed the decision.

GHALANAI Fata PML-N leader Syed Wali Shah Afridi and Senator Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed, Mohmand Welfare Organisation president, also welcomed the decision.

The people distributed sweets and resorted to aerial firing at different places in the agency.

NOWSHERA PPP leaders Mian Muzaffar Shah and Farooq Khan and PML-N Bani Amin, Noor Mohammad, Tahir Yousufzai, Gul Nawaz, Shaukat Jan and Ahmed Raza welcomed the decision and distributed sweets.

PPP leader Naseerullah Babar asked the government to hold Mr Musharraf accountable for the crisis created during his tenure.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mohammad Asif also appreciated the president's resignation and expressed the hope that economic situation of the country would now improve.

CHARSADDA Workers of various political parties distributed sweets and resorted to aerial firing to celebrate Mr Musharraf's resignation.

PML-N Mina Humayun, Shah Kakakhel, Aurang Zeb Khan and Sajid Gul, PPP leaders Taimur Khan Khattak, Farooq Azam, Hakeemullah and Bashir Khan, and Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Prof Mohammad Ibrahim and Peer Masuaf Jan demanded arrest of Mr Musharraf.

PML-Q leaders Nisar Mohammad Khan and Moazam Butt termed the decision a wise step on part of Musharraf.

MINGORA People expressed their pleasure over Mr Musharraf's resignation and hoped that peace would be restored in the Swat valley.