May 25, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 08, 1428

Quetta, May 24: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Thursday that the policies of President Pervez Musharraf had destroyed the democratic institutions.

Addressing a public meeting at Kuchlak bazaar, he said that an ineffective parliament, assault on judiciary, attack on private TV channels, denial of rights to federating units and ‘state-sponsored’ terrorism against political workers would not only derail the political process but also create disharmony in the country.

He said parliament was bypassed on important national issues and President Musharraf never respected the sentiments of people to resolve the problems in a democratic manner.

The ANP chief urged all the democratic forces to forge unity to struggle against military rulers.

Referring to incidents in Karachi, he said that he had not discussed political matters with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad during their meeting recently. He was a visiting guest and we only offered fateha for the victims of May 12 mayhem, he added.

He said that the postponement of strike calls in Karachi was a decision of the Pakhtun Action Committee, and ANP had nothing to do with the decision. He said Pakhtun Jirga would take any decision pertaining to the Karachi issues.