June 19, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429

PESHAWAR, June 18: The Awami National Party has said that it has neither opposed reinstatement of the deposed judges nor is it against the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf.

“The ANP has a history of long struggle for restoration of democracy. We have always fought against dictators and tyrants. Our past is replete with physical as well as material sacrifices rendered for the establishment of democracy and rule of law,” ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.

The statement appears to be in response to PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s statement on Tuesday that the ANP and MQM had reservations about reinstatement of the deposed judges and impeachment of President Musharraf.

Mr Khattak said the impression that the ANP was opposed to reinstatement of the judges and impeachment of the president was not correct. “Any decision taken in consultation with the democratic forces will be fully backed,” he added.