PESHAWAR, July 6: NWFP Awami National Party President Nasim Wali Khan said on Monday that if the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy wanted the ANP to rejoin it, it should allay reservations and apprehensions of the  party's leadership.

Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the working  committee ANP's NWFP chapter, she said the party had not yet decided to join the ARD.

She said the party would return to the ARD only if its apprehensions were allayed and it was given certain assurances.

She said the ARD should involve its provincial leadership in negotiations with the ANP.

"We need certain assurance viz-a-viz provincial autonomy and provision of due constitutional rights to the province before we re-enter the ARD ranks," said the ANP leader.

"We want the ARD’s provincial leadership to be a part of any agreement if the two sides decide to reunite for a common cause," she said.

Nasim Wali presided over the meeting which was attended by the party's provincial leaders.

Replying to a question regarding the return of Afrasyab Khattak to the ANP, she said: "All other Pukhtun nationalists can also join the ANP because they  do not have any other option but to unite on a platform to struggle for the achievement of Pukhtuns’ rights.’’

About the Durand Line, she said the frontier became non-existent after 3.2 million Afghans crossed over legal documents or visas issued by the government.

QUETTA ATTACK: She deplored the July 4 terrorist attack in Quetta and said the ANP had always opposed and condemned terrorism because Islam did not allow it.