CHARSADDA, Dec 10: Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that they accept Punjab as their ‘big brother’ but are not ready to follow its dictations.

He was addressing a public meeting here on Monday after inauguration of Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex, Begum Nasim Wali Khan Social Welfare Complex and other development projects worth Rs10 billion.

The gathering was also addressed by Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, ANP provincial chief Senator Afrasiab Khattak and district president Khalid Khan.

Senator Shahi Syed, Zahid Khan, Haji Adeel, Baz Mohammad Khan, provincial ministers Sardar Hussain Babak, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Arshad Abdullah, Syed Aqil Shah and Sitara Ayaz and ANP lawmakers and leaders were also present on the occasion.

Referring to militants’ attack near the venue of the public meeting, the ANP chief said that such cowardly acts couldn’t plunge Pakhtun nation into darkness of ignorance.

Mr Khan said that efforts for restoration of peace in the region would continue till the logical end. He said that activists and supporters of ANP could not be frightened through such tactics. He added strength of the public meeting showed that Pakhtuns were ready to fight against the anti-Islam and anti-Pakhtun forces.

The ANP chief said that they understood that Punjab was their ‘big brother’ but they were not ready to accept its dictations. He said that Punjab should change its mindset and treat them like younger brother.

Mr Khan said in the past too plots were hatched to build Kalabagh Dam but Pakhtuns under the red flag frustrated all such conspiracies.

Regarding Lahore High Court verdict on Kalabagh Dam, he said that they were not ready to accept such decisions even if the same were delivered by the Supreme Court.

He said that ANP gave real name to the province, got provincial autonomy and brought Pakhtun nation in a position to have control on its resources. He said that ANP fulfilled the dreams of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan.

Mr Khan said that ANP would contest next elections with a new electoral manifesto. He was optimistic that they would win the next elections with clear majority to from government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing the public meeting, the chief minister said that launching uplift projects worth billions of rupees in Charsadda was a proof of the affiliation of ANP leadership with the people of the region. He said that provincial government carried out record development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Hoti said that scores of development projects were completed while work on several others was still in progress in the province.