SWABI, Jan 22: The Awami National Party has been fighting for the rights of Pukhtuns and the main objective of the party is to create unity among them. This was said by ANP leaders while addressing a workers’ convention here on Monday.

Former MNA Haji Rehmanullah said that the war on Al Qaeda had shifted to Pukhtunkhwa, which had been dividing Pukhtuns further.

He said that the Pukhtuns were peace-loving people and those who called them fundamentalists were mistaken.

“The Pukhtuns are democratic and religious-minded people,” he said.

Former provincial general secretary of the party, Salim Khan, said Pukhtuns wanted “independence” and those coming in their way would be punished.

“None of the communities in the world can match the independent nature of the Pukhtuns,” he said.

“Baba (Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan) has provided us the guidelines and we have to stick with that,” he said.

“Those who failed to follow their genuine leaders face difficulties.”

He said that Bacha Khan raised the issue of the provincial autonomy and now leaders had recognized that without provincial autonomy there would be a permanent clash between the federation and provinces.

Information secretary Mohammad Rashid said that workers should be ready for the upcoming election.

He said the people have experienced the rule of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and the best outcome was that the real intention of its leaders surfaced.

He also appealed to the party workers to finalize their preparations for participating in the death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan.

The workers vowed that they would follow the footprints of their leaders who devoted most of their life to fight for their rights.