Pak Minister supports renaming of NWFP as Afghania

Islamabad, Feb 26 : Caretaker Federal Minister Nisar Muhammad Khan has formally supported the demand of Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) to rename NWFP as Afghania.

"I think NWFP should be renamed as Afghania province since most of the people living in the province are not Pashtoons but Afghans," Nisar said.

He said Bacha Khan being the first Pashtoon leader of the NWFP was not known as an Afghan leader.

Nisar said he had already discussed this idea with ANP chief Asfandyar and PkMAP leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and they both agreed to change the name to Afghania.

Answering a question, Nisar said that he would also discuss this issue with President Pervez Musharraf.

The PkMAP leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that they had no objection to renaming NWFP as Afghania, Pashtoonkhwa or Pakhtunistan.

Asfandyar also confirmed that they had proposed Afghania, Pakhtunkhwa and Pakhtunistan as the province's new names.

ANI