ANP calls loss of Pukhtoon lives a ‘national tragedy’

ANP calls loss of Pukhtoon lives a ‘national tragedy’
PESHAWAR: The loss of 11 Pukhtoon lives in Saturday’s violence is a national tragedy, Awami National Party NWFP President Afrasiab Khattak said in a press statement on Sunday. He urged Pukhtoons in NWFP and the tribal areas to unite against the “state-backed terrorism at the hands of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) terrorists”. “Up to 11 ANP workers were reported killed in Saturday’s violence and there are 17 injured,” ANP provincial information secretary Aqil Shah told Daily Times. “Ten are still missing.” The nationalist party announced full support to the shutter down strike call for Monday from lawyers in the province to protest the violence in Karachi. The unofficial death toll has reached 37 in Sunday’s violence involving the MQM and other political parties. The MQM and Pukhtoons previously had disputes in 1995 with both sides losing more than 40 lives. ANP central president Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan angrily reacted to the killings of Pukhtoons, calling the MQM “a mercenary and fascist force” and warned that the Pukhtoons would “react” if they were attacked. “The killed party activists’ only crime was that they took to the streets to voice concern at threats to the independence of the judiciary and they were killed by mercenaries of the MQM,” Afrasiab stated. He said police and paramilitary force backed the “MQM terrorists”. staff report
Daily Times