ISLAMABAD July 25: Awami National Party (ANP) has welcomed what it termed the courageous statements issued by Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) president and Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) secretary-general, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, in support of restoration of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan.

Zahid Khan, central information secretary of the ANP, however, advised the Maulana to stick to his peace overtures which he undertook in New Delhi even after he returns to Pakistan.

Talking to Dawn the ANP leader said, “his party was declared as anti-state when years back it had advocated establishing congenial relations between India and Pakistan by resolving all issues in the spirit of reconciliation between the two countries”.

“Now that a religious party chief which has its roots in India had supported the process of normalisation it must be backed by all peace loving people in the country” said the ANP leader.

He blamed those opposing the normalisation process of grinding their personal axe in the name of ‘jehad’. He alleged that the MMA was the creation of certain forces in this country and it was now clear how it was divided from within on a number of national and international policies including on how to conduct bilateral relations with the neighbouring countries.

The ANP leader said that his party had been supporting the normalisation of relations with India.