Militants target secularist nationalists in NWFP

PESHAWAR, October 06 (Internews): The suicide attack on the ruling Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali in Pakistan’s restive North West Frontier Province is the latest sign that militant Islamists are targeting secular nationalists.

The attack on Wali at his Wali Bagh residence last week was the second on a top ANP leader during public meetings in recent months. Earlier, ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak survived a suicide bombing in Charsadda district about a week before the February 18 general elections.

The ANP leaders and parliamentarians are on the hit list of the Taliban in the troubled Swat valley, in particular.

ANP central leader Afzal Lala survived an attempt on his life, while elder brother and two nephews of ANP MP Waqar Ahmad Khan were brutally killed and houses, markets and other properties of the ANP parliamentarians were destroyed or torched by Swat militants in recent weeks.

Though the NWFP government has no say in the ongoing operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), the ANP-led government and leadership in the province are being blamed for supporting the military operation launched by the federal government in Bajaur and Darra Adamkhel.

In order to restore peace in the strife-torn Swat valley, the provincial government signed two peace agreements; one with radical Maulana Sufi Muhammad’s TNSM group and the other with Maulana Fazlullah-led Taliban.

However, the peace deal with Swat Taliban could not bear fruit and the militants targeted the ANP leaders and workers after the military resumed operation in Swat.

A provincial minister, who is also provincial leader of the ANP, said that according to the intelligence agencies’ reports the top ANP leadership and ministers, including the NWFP chief minister, were on the hit list of the Taliban, declaring them as “disbelievers” and “the US agents”.

The ANP was punished for its efforts for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Swat, which falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, he added. The nationalist party also received threats from the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to resign from the government within five days or face the consequences.

The provincial leader said the Wall Bagh bombing was widely condemned by almost all political parties, including president and prime minister. However, he said, mere press statements would not help curb terrorism but all the political and religious parties should join hands against the growing trend of militancy.

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