Awami National Party sees the UN findings on Benazir Bhutto's killing as unimpressive and urges the nation not to take it as final word in the investigation of BB's assassination. "Undoubtedly, previous government and Musharraf are responsible for her killing but terrorists' involvement cannot be ruled out," said Information Minister of Khyber-Pukhtunkhuwa, Mian Iftikhar Hussain at press conference held at Karachi Press Club on Friday.
He called the former premier "first martyr of democracy," saying that the country still needed such a brave leader to cope with the challenges which Pakistan was facing. About fight against terror, he said, "it was the policy of ANP to destroy the network, hideouts and camps of terrorists in the province, in which Pakistan army has played a significant and exemplary role."
He also lauded the efforts of Pakistan army for fighting war on terror in Malakand Division side by side the political government, saying that ANP would continue to help the armed forces in future too for such cause. Mian Iftikhar said Fazlullah was alive and hiding in area close to Afghanistan, although he was seriously injured during the military crackdown in Swat. "Scant information about Fazlullah comes through BBC radio that he is alive while his phone numbers show sometimes Afghanistan's code but his whereabouts are still not known to the provincial government," he added.
Regarding latest developments in the national politics, he said the 18th Amendment has resolved the issue of renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pukhtunkhuwa along with longstanding demand for provincial autonomy. He criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Q for voting against the 18th Amendment, as it was one of the signatories. However, he lauded some of the PML-Q legislators who despite their party's fresh policy had supported the amendment.
"Everyone has the right to express a note off dissent for the amendment but it was obligatory to vote for its becoming part of the Constitution, which the PML-Q despite being signatory did not follow," Mian Iftikhar said. He also urged all the political forces to support the government for bringing the country out of the energy crisis and other major problems so that the nation's future could be made secure.
To a question, he said complaining and protesting against the renaming of NWFP was the democratic right of people of Hazara Division, while their demand for a separate province needed a democratic process to make it part of the Constitution.
Iftikhar also termed the Abbottabad incident as "unpleasant," saying that a judicial committee had been set up to find those who were behind the bloody violence that claimed some seven lives. To another question, he said it was the US, which had changed its policy on Taliban after the terror incident of September 11, 2001, whereas ANP stuck to its principal stance since the civil war had begun in Afghanistan.
He also thanked President Asif Ali Zardari for outright support in renaming Khyber-Pukhtunkhuwa and vowed that ANP would also support the PPP government. He lauded the efforts of Raza Rabbani for developing consensus in evolving and passing the 18th Amendment. He said Nawaz Sharif had also played pivotal role in renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pukhtunkhuwa despite harsh criticism.
Mian Iftikhar said some members of PML-Q who acted on principle during the legislation of the amendment, besides, JUI-F, PPP Sherpao, MQM, Baloch leadership and the nation deserve commendation for supporting the ANP cause.