PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has warned against any attempt to introduce presidential form of government in the country, saying there is only parliamentary form of government in the constitution that protects rights of all federating units.

Addressing a function held here on Thursday under the aegis of Peshawar District Bar Association, ANP central senior vice president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said that playing with the constitution should be stopped as any undemocratic step would cause problems.

He said that lawyers always played key role in maintaining supremacy of constitution in the country. He said that passage of 18th Amendment and approval of National Finance Commission award were made possible owing to the lawyers’ movement as it forced a dictator to step down.

He said that ANP would extend full support to any movement of lawyers for rule of law in case of any attack on independence of judiciary.

Mr Hoti, who is also a former chief minister, said that all state institutions should work within their legal framework in accordance with the constitution . He said that terrorists were regrouping in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

He urged government to take practical steps to control the fresh wave of terrorism in the country. He said some wrong decisions were made about four decades ago that resulted in multiple problems for the entire region.

He said that Pakhtuns could not afford any fresh wave of terrorism because they had suffered the most.

The ANP leader said that government should take immediate steps for launching developmental schemes in tribal districts to remove grievances of local people. He said that people in tribal districts were facing administrative, legal and financial problems.

He said that his party never demanded release of missing persons but always pleaded for presenting them in court of law to decide their fate. He said that relatives of many missing persons did not know about their life and death.

He said that all Pakhtun leaders should join hands to resolve the problems being faced by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He also appreciated the efforts being made for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. He said that all stakeholders should be taken on board regarding the peace process.

He said that Pakistan should play effective role for restoration of peace in Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021