QUETTA, Jan 24: Leaders of the Balochistan chapter of Awami National Party have said the party will strictly follow the philosophy of non-violence, advocated by the founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, to achieve the rights of Pakhtuns and other oppressed nationalities in the country.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 24th death anniversary of Baacha Khan and sixth death anniversary of Khan Abdul Wali Khan at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, the leaders said that ANP would continue to be part of the PPP-led coalition government to protect democratic and constitutional rights of the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Inayatullah Khan, Aurangzeb Kasi, Daud Khan Achakzai, Obaidullah Abid, Rashid Nasar, Haji Abdul Sattar and Zubair Shah paid tribute to Baacha Khan for his untiring struggle for liberating the country from British colonialism.

They claimed that Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Wali Khan during the independence movement and after the founding of Pakistan, continued their struggle for the rights of not only Pakhtuns, but all other oppressed nationalities of the country. The speakers said that Baacha Khan never compromised on principles and maintained that the late leader played a vital role in the struggle against all dictatorial regimes and for restoration of democracy in the country.

They said the ANP was following in the footsteps of Baacha Khan, particularly his philosophy of non-violence, because history taught “us that violence only destroys established institutions and it is not in the interest of the people to resort to violence”.

They said that some elements were targeting President Asif Ali Zardari because he supported the rights of the Pakhtun, Baloch and Seraiki.

They said the ANP would continue to support the PPP leadership to protect democratic rights of the people.