February 25, 2008	Monday	Safar 17, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 24: Awami National Party secretary-general Ehsan Wayne has said that an artificial atmosphere of terrorism created in the NWFP for dollars is now being dispensed with for more money.

Speaking at a seminar on `Victory of democratic political parties in elections and agenda of national reconciliation’ arranged by the Minority Rights Commission (MRC) and Minorities Movement for Democracy at the Lahore Press Club here on Sunday, he said terrorism had been bred in the NWFP under the garb of ‘jehad’ at the behest of US when Russians invaded Afghanistan. It was now being fought again at the behest of US which had consumed oil in the Middle East and wanted access to the Central Asian reserves.

He said the terrorism being witnessed in the country was an outcome of dictatorship. The ANP did not agree with the strategy adopted by the government for controlling terrorism which had been rejected by voters during the recent elections. The ANP would avoid use of force and start a dialogue with militants by convening ‘jirgas’ in accordance with the tribal traditions. He said the government failed to rig the elections because the people came out and cast votes despite the atmosphere of insecurity created by the rulers.

Wayne said the ANP believed in provincial autonomy and wanted discontinuation of military operation in the NWFP and Balochistan. It would not back out of its demand for change of name of the NWFP to Pakhtoonkha either.

MRC director Younas Alam said a countrywide movement would soon be launched against discrimination against minorities. The religion required to be separated from the state to end discrimination against minorities but not only the manifestoes of most of the political parties but even the Constitution was biased against them. Only the ANP had a secular manifesto.

Punjab ANP president Sattar Haider said politics of personality cult and sycophancy would have to be replaced with programme-based politics for the promotion of democracy in the country.