KARACHI, June 9: Awami National Party has whipped up ethnic cord to win support of Pushtoons and check erosion of its power base.

Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club President of the Sindh chapter of ANP, Shahi Syed, called upon all Pushtoons living in the province to unite on the ANP platform to keep the movement alive, which was initiated by Bacha Khan and kept alive by Khan Abdul Wali Khan and Asfandyar Wali.

He felt that unity of Pushtoons was imperative for meeting the challenge of the present time.

He supported the demand for provincial autonomy and maintained that it was necessary for the existence of the country.

Declaring opposition to Kalabagh dam, he said that it was a matter of life and death for the people of Sindh and the NWFP who would never allow this dam to be constructed.

He criticized those ministers who were trying to reopen the issue.

But his stand on LFO was supportive of the government stance as he contented that the controversial package was not the problem of the people. For them, he said, unemployment and lack of amenities were the greatest problems.

He also welcomed return of Ajmal Khattak to the fold of ANP.