PESHAWAR, July 4: Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Afrasyab Khattak on Friday rejoined the Awami National Party after parting ways with the party over a decade ago.

Later, speaking at a press conference at the ANP’s headquarters here, Mr Khattak stressed the need for unity among the ranks of Pukhtuns, saying it was vital following the 9/11 incident.

Expressing his belief in a federal democratic system, he said that it was unfortunate that democracy had not gained a strong foothold in Pakistan.

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, who accompanied him during the press conference along with other senior party leaders, including Begum Nasim Wali Khan, welcomed Mr Khattak back to the party fold.

Mr Wali announced that Mr Khattak would serve as a member of the party’s central executive committee, adding that Mr Khattak had decided to join ANP without being offered any post.

Focussing on what he termed “sharp negative impact” of the 9/11 incident on the NWFP, he said that Pukhtuns living along the border areas in the province and elsewhere had suffered the most in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States.

He cautioned the Pukhtun nation that if they failed to forge unity, their problems would last “forever”.