‘ANP will win war against terrorism, general elections’

“The Awami National Party (ANP) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has forced terrorists back into their caves. The ANP will win the war against terrorism, and the next general elections as well,” said KP Local Government & Rural Development Minister/ANP parliamentary leader in KP Assembly Bashir Ahmed Bilour on Saturday. Talking to the media during the Meet The Press programme at the Karachi Press Club, Bilour said his government has brought the bomb blasts in KP under control, adding that without the support of the people, the government cannot control terrorists. He said, “Fifty percent of the bomb blasts and attacks occur in Peshawar. Two ANP MPAs among 450 party members and office-bearers were killed in terrorist attacks. Assassination attempts were also made on me, ANP’s KP CM Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and the party president Asfandyar Wali Khan.” He also said, “The Balochistan problem is an old issue. We [the ANP] appeal to the federal government not to take this matter lightly and to give it serious consideration.” He further said he is not against the Hazara province, but everything should happen according to the constitution. Bilour said, “Weapons are not being spread across the country from Peshawar alone. If arms are coming from KP, then the consignments are passing through Punjab. Why doesn’t anyone stop it? Who knows how many weapons are arriving in Karachi through the sea?” He appreciated Begum Nasim Wali Khan’s services rendered for the ANP, and said she was denied a ticket for senate polls because she was of very old age and cannot frequently move. Bilour also said the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal had failed to get any rights of the province of KP. Responding to a question, he said the NATO supply routes have not been reopened, and the parliament would have the final say in the matter.