Ruling party says peace won't return to NWFP unless militant sanctuaries remain

Peshawar, July 24 : The ruling party in the NWFP (North West Frontier Province), the ANP believes that peace could not return to the province unless militants-training sanctuaries remained there.

Party's provincial president Afrasiab Khattak said that the militants training sanctuaries in the province was a big problem for them.

"For us, the serious issue is peace. For us, the serious issue is militants' sanctuaries in tribal areas. As long as they (sanctuaries) remain peace will be difficult to return," the Daily Times quoted Khattak as saying.

In the prevailing circumstances, the ruling party has pleaded for the old system where law and order in the Tribal Areas was co-ordinated by the home secretary.

Recently, Taliban-e-Tehrik Pakistan had issued a five-day deadline for the NWFP government to stop attacks on the militants, threatening them that else they would have to face dire consequences. The deadline expired on July 21, but the NWFP government refused to bow to the militants' demands and is said to be following a hot pursuit policy to deal with militancy.

ANI