QUETTA: Awami National Party (ANP) general secretary Iftikhar Hussain has said that all political parties should accept each other’s mandate and called for negotiations to bring the ongoing political impasse to an end.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said since Imran Khan had withdrawn his call for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign the government must take initiative to resume dialogue with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf without delay on the issue of alleged rigging in 2013 general election.

He said that elections were rigged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa too and the ANP had suffered the most yet the party leadership accepted the mandate of PTI and Jammat-i-Islami in the province only to strengthen political and democratic institutions. Therefore, he added, Imran Khan should also recognise the mandate of other political parties.

The ANP leader said that some `forces’ were trying to roll back the 18th Amendment which if allowed to happen would be dangerous for the country. He announced that ANP would under no circumstances allow changes in the 18th Amendment.

Mr Hussain urged the coalition government in Balochistan to take steps for solving problems being faced by the Baloch and Pakhtun people.

Criticising the government for the `poor’ law and order situation in the province, he expressed concern over incidents of targeted killing, abduction for ransom and enforced disappearances.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to protect the lives of people.

Published in Dawn December 9th , 2014