RAWALPINDI, March 16: The central leadership of the Awami National Party has dissolved the party’s NWFP committee headed by Begum Nasim Wali Khan and terminated party membership of its provincial secretary-general Farid Toofan. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party’s central executive committee held at the Dir House here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of ANP president Asfandyar Wali.

The meeting decided that Mr Toofan would not be able to regain the party’s membership for 10 years.

It was informed that 11 of the 15 members of the NWFP committee had quit their posts and the termination of the basic membership of Mr Toofan had created an organisational vacuum.

The meeting unanimously decided to dissolve the provincial committee and set up an organising committee headed by Bashir Ahmad Bilor. The committee has been asked to select new office-bearers within six months. Other members of the committee are Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Nek Amal Khan, Baz Muhammad, Zain Muhammad Khan, Imran Afridi and Naveed Advocate.

The meeting also discussed the political situation in the country. It condemned what it called the army operations in tribal areas and Balochistan and termed it harmful to the country. It said that foreign elements in tribal areas were guests of the government, but the tribal people were being victimized for no fault of theirs.

The issue of Kalabagh Dam also came under discussion and the meeting expressed grave concern over recent government moves over the controversial project and said that Kalabagh Dam and Pakistan could not coexist.

The ANP leadership stressed the need for provincial autonomy and said that federating units must get complete autonomy.

Earlier, the meeting accepted an application sent by Begum Nasim Wali Khan expressing her inability to attend the meeting. Two letters sent by her, one to the party chief and the second to the executive committee members, were read out at the meeting.

Mr Asfandyar praised the morale of the NWFP party workers for facing the month-long crisis with courage and steadfastness. He also paid tribute to the services of Begum Nasim.

The meeting was attended by Haji Bilor, Azam Khan Hoti, Haji Adil, Sangeen Wali Khan, Qamus Gul Khattak, Aurangzeb Kasi, Afrasiyab Khattak, Nizamuddin Kakar and other members of the committee.