PESHAWAR: Awami National Party’s central president Asfandyar Wali Khan has condemned the terrorist attacks in Bannu and Mastung that took precious lives of two election candidates and scores of political workers on Friday.

Asfandyar, who himself is on the hit-list of terrorists according to Nacta, in a press statement on Friday expressed his grief at the innocent lives that were lost and the injured in the two separate political meetings in Mastung (Balochistan) and Bannu (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

The ANP leader expressed his concern at the fact that law and order situation was deteriorating with the day.

ANP itself is mourning the loss of one of its member and candidate for PK-78, Haroon Bilour, who got killed in a suicide attack while he was coming to a corner meeting in Yaktoot area of Peshawar city on Tuesday night.

Asfandyar, who also visited the Bilour family on Friday to offer prayers at the tragic loss, called such terror attacks a conspiracy to deter ANP from taking part in the electoral process.

He clearly stated that ANP would continue election activities and take part in the general election and wont’ leave the electoral ground by such intimidation.

The ANP leader said the Friday’s attack on convoy of JUI-F candidate Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu killing four and injuring around 29 others was linked to the Yakatoot terrorist attack.

In Mastung, candidate for PB-35, Siraj Raisani was also targeted along with party workers by a lethal terrorist attack on a corner meeting.

In the 2013 elections, ANP was also faced terrorist threats, affecting its participation in polls.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018