PESHAWAR: The central leader of Awami National Party, Asfandyar Wali Khan, on Tuesday called for conducting military operation in North Waziristan without any consideration for good and bad Taliban.

He said that displacement of tens of thousands of tribal people from North Waziristan Agency was a human tragedy that would affect adversely the post-operation scenario in the region.

Talking to journalists at his Wali Bagh residence in Charsadda, he said that military operation should be conducted irrespective of good and bad Taliban. He said that political and local ownership of the operation was a must to secure support of tribal people and political parties.

Also read: Zarb-i-Azb — Bad news for 'Good' Taliban?

The ANP leader recalled that more than 3.5 million people had migrated in the wake of military operation in Swat district during the ANP government in the province. However, they were repatriated to their native areas with all the possible relief and assistance within three months, he added.

The ANP leader termed cash assistance of Rs7,000 to each displaced family insufficient.

Related: Number of IDPs may reach 600,000: Baloch

About the arrival of Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri in Pakistan, Mr Khan said that he was making ‘foolish’ attempts to get the attention of the people. He wanted to divert the attention of people from real issues, he added.

The ANP leader said that Qadri had staged a similar drama in Islamabad during the previous government in the name of bringing revolution. The nation saw what he did, he added.

Mr Khan said that people were forced to take illegal steps when they were deprived of their legal, constitutional and democratic rights. He said that agitation and protests were basic rights of the people in a democratic setup.

Mr Khan also criticised the performance of the provincial government, saying he didn't know what change it brought in the province during its one and half year government.

Our Correspondent adds from Charsadda: Former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti was elected unopposed provincial president of ANP in the intra-party elections held at Wali Bagh here on Tuesday.

Former provincial minister for information Mian Iftikhar Hussain was elected provincial general secretary of ANP by its general council that met at Wali Bagh, ancestral home of party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, to elect the provincial cabinet of the party.

Syed Aqil Shah, former sports minister, was elected provincial senior vice president and Aimal Wali Khan, the son of Asfandyar Wali Khan, was elected deputy general secretary of the party.According to the official website of ANP, the vice presidents elected on the occasion include Haroon Bilour, Hussain Ali Shah, Ayub Ashari, Nimroz Khan, Sitara Ayaz, Khusheed Begum, Senator Zahida Khan, Irum Fatima and Naheedur Rehman.

It said that Bashir Pakhtunyar was elected provincial culture secretary, Advocate Khushdil Khan finance secretary, Asif Bhatti secretary minorities and Amir Rehman was elected joint secretary of the party.

The joint secretaries elect include Shagufta Malik, Musarrat Shafi, Khadija Sardar, Begum Shehnaz Raja and Dur Shehsawar. MPA Sardar Hussain Babak was elected provincial secretary information of the party, according to the website.

The intra-party elections were announced after all organisational units of ANP were dissolved following its poor performance in the last general election. ANP had formed committee to find out reasons behind its poor performance in the elections.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2014