PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Saturday asked the government to explain an irresponsible statement made by federal interior minister Ejaz Shah regarding killings of his party leaders during the war against terrorism.

In a statement issued here, the ANP chief said the interior minister was an irresponsible, ignorant and uninformed person. He said hundreds of his party workers and leaders had laid down their lives in the fight against terror, and asked the government to explain whether these sacrifices were for the protection of the state or against it. He said when ANP senior leader Mian Iftikhar’s son and Bashir Bilour lost their lives security forces were also fighting the war against terrorism.

He said the ANP stood by the security forces during the war on terror and offered sacrifices of hundreds of its workers.

Asfandyar asked where the interior minister was when the war was being fought. He said the government should explain the interior minister’s statement.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2020