CHARSADDA, April 8: Aawami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan has said his party would never support President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his proposed referendum plan, as it was an unconstitutional move.

Speaking at a meeting at Mandani here on Sunday, he said that our rivals blamed the ANP for an underhand deal with the government, because the party supported some of the policies of the present government.

ANP chief explained that the party supported the Musharraf government in its Afghan, Kashmir and anti-terrorist policies, as these policies were the same for which the ANP had been struggling for the last 25 years, and for these policies we were labelled as the friends of Hindus, Kafir and anti-Pakistani.

He advocated the convening of Loya Jirga for the solution of the Afghan problem, and favoured the expulsion of radicals and terrorists from the country. “So were the policies of Bacha Khan that ultimately triumphed”, he said.

The ANP leader termed the graduation condition, imposed by the government on candidates contesting election for the Parliament, irrational and described it as against the basic human rights.

Earlier, NWFP ANP President Begun Nasim Wali Khan, speaking to the gathering, said time had come for the Pakhtoons to get united under the red flag of Bacha Khan and struggle for their rights.  

She claimed that it was due to the sacrifices of Bacha Khan and his comrades that today the Pakhtoons had a very respectable position in the comity of nations.

Begum Wali said the ANP was struggling for the rights of Pakhtoon. We wanted that resources of this province must be spent on the people of the province.

She said: “I have met with President Gen Pervez Musharraf twice, and in both the meetings I have asked for the provincial autonomy of the federating units.

The meeting was also addressed by Mian Ifthikhar Husain, provincial deputy general secretary and Mian Haider Shah, Tehsil ANP President Tehsil Tangi.

On this occasion Pervez Khan along with a dozen of friends and relatives resigned from the Communist Mazdoor Kisan Party and announced his decision of joining the ANP.