CHARSADDA: Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan has warned that his party will stage a sit-in in Islamabad if Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) is not merged with Khyber Pakht­unkhwa province before March 12.

Speaking at a public gathering here on Tuesday, he demanded that the federal government announce a decision on the merger of Fata with KP in accordance with the aspiration of the parliamentarians and people of Fata.

He said if such a decision was not taken before March 12, the ANP would organise a sit-in in Islamabad and the Nawaz government would forget sit-ins staged by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

He said misunderstandings would automatically crop up if decisions involving the future of Afghanistan would be taken in Moscow. Pakistan, China and Russia should take Afghanistan on board with regard to any decision taken on its future, he added.

“If America, Iran and India were to sit in Iran and make a decision on the future of Kashmir, would it be acceptable to Pakistan,” he questioned.

The ANP president said Pakistan and Afghanistan should gather political courage and come to the negotiating table to resolve all issues with mutual understanding. He said peace in Afghanistan was linked to peace in Pakistan and vice versa.

He said political parties should leave the Panama Papers case to the Supreme Court and they should concentrate on solving people’s problems.

On this occasion, prominent social and political worker Zahir Khan Wardaga with his supporters announced joining the ANP.

Published in Dawn February 8th, 2017