21 January 2004	Wednesday	28 Ziqa'ad 1424

PESHAWAR, Jan 20: The Awami National Party (ANP) has accused the federal government of harbouring Al Qaeda activists, and said the people of tribal areas are being victimized under a so-called operation against militants. Speaking at a function held on Tuesday to mark the 16th death anniversary of the Pukhtun nationalist leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan alleged that the government had been providing shelter to Al Qaeda activists.

He said the people of tribal areas were being victimized in the name of a so-called operation to flush out Al Qaeda militants. The ANP leader alleged that Al Qaeda operatives were shifted to other places before a raid was conducted by law enforcement agencies. Asfandyar Wali said the people of tribal areas had nothing to do with Al Qaeda and observed that "they (Al Qaeda members) are nurtured by the US and Pakistani agencies."

He said as normality was returning to Afghanistan after its decision to introduce democracy by adopting a new constitution, intelligence agencies of Pakistan had focused their activities on Fata to achieve their desired results.

The ANP chief said those who were trying to impose hegemony of one province over others were bent upon destroying integrity of Pakistan. He said these elements were creating a crisis-like situation and in case of any eventuality Gen Pervez Musharraf and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would be responsible.

Asfandyar Wali said assemblies of two provinces did not pose confidence in President Musharraf in the recent presidential vote of confidence. Other ANP leaders in their speeches criticized the MMA for extending help to the government in the passage of the 17th amendment. They said the 17th amendment would cast a negative impact on the sovereignty of the country. Those who spoke on the occasion included ANP's provincial chief Begum Nasim Wali Khan, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Farid Toofan and Mian Iftikhar.