NOWSHERA: Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has lauded Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan for his decision to end his protest sit-in in Islamabad.

Terming his decision a positive step, he said that it was a message for all that Pakistani politicians were united in the war against terrorism. “The postponement of protest by Imran Khan is a positive gesture. It will boost the morale of the people of the country at this critical juncture,” Mr Iftikhar told journalists after offering fateha for the departed soul of Ali Abbas, son of DMS Ikram Shah, at Dag Baisud, Pabbi on Thursday.

The ANP leader said that the step taken by PTI chief would provide an opportunity to the political leadership to take united stand against terrorists and their handlers, who killed innocent children in Army Public School.

He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif felt pain of the tragedy and visited Peshawar and called a conference of all political parties. “It is a good omen that all political parties are now united against the menace of terrorism,” Mr Hussain said.

Mian Iftikhar says the message is that politicians are united against terrorists

The ANP leader said that Pakistani Taliban were carrying out activities from Afghanistan while Afghan Taliban were making attacks from Pakistan. The government of Pakistan was blaming Afghan government and Afghan government was blaming Pakistan for supporting Taliban, he said. He added that the government would have to change foreign policy of the country and blame game should be stopped immediately.

Mr Iftikhar said that people were bearing brunt of the wrong decisions of the government. “We have to realise our responsibility otherwise it would be difficult to succeed in the anti-terrorists drive,” he added.

The ANP leader said that terrorism could be uprooted if government, all political parties and agencies were determined to eliminate the menace.

He thanked all political parties for participating in the all parties’ conference and supporting the government’s stand against terrorism.

Mian Iftikhar said that the sacrifices rendered by students brought all stakeholders on one page. “History would not forgive us if we don’t learn lesson from these massacres,” he said.

He said that chief of army staff went to Afghanistan and demanded of it to hand over the mastermind of the attack. “Unfortunately the terrorist activities have been here for the last 30 years which badly affected Pakhtun nation,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014