Federal Defense Minister Pervez Khattak and Interior Minister Brig. retd. Ijaz Shah will visit the headquarters of Awami National Party (ANP) today on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan to apologise over Shah’s controversial remarks about the killings of ANP leaders by the Taliban.
Internal Minister Ijaz Shah had said while addressing a private ceremony that the killings of ANP leaders were a reaction by the Taliban against anti-Taliban narrative of ANP. He had also said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) could face a similar 'reaction' for their anti-army narrative.
The statement of Shah angered the ANP leadership who called for a 'truth and reconciliation commission'. ANP also demanded the interior minister’s resignation.
Many ANP leaders were killed by the Taliban, including Bashir Ahmed Bilour and Mian Rashid Hussain, the son of ANP leader Iftikhar Hussain.
Samar Bilour, provincial spokesperson of ANP said that if Shah did not resign, ANP would hold a long march towards Islamabad on Sunday.
Talking to media, Khattak confirmed that on the direction of prime minister Imran Khan, he, Shah and Mahmood Khan will visit the Bacha Khan Markaz to apologise for the interior minister’s statement. He said that ANP has sacrificed a lot in the war against terrorism.
Internal Minister Ijaz Shah had said while addressing a private ceremony that the killings of ANP leaders were a reaction by the Taliban against anti-Taliban narrative of ANP. He had also said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) could face a similar 'reaction' for their anti-army narrative.
The statement of Shah angered the ANP leadership who called for a 'truth and reconciliation commission'. ANP also demanded the interior minister’s resignation.
Many ANP leaders were killed by the Taliban, including Bashir Ahmed Bilour and Mian Rashid Hussain, the son of ANP leader Iftikhar Hussain.
Samar Bilour, provincial spokesperson of ANP said that if Shah did not resign, ANP would hold a long march towards Islamabad on Sunday.
Talking to media, Khattak confirmed that on the direction of prime minister Imran Khan, he, Shah and Mahmood Khan will visit the Bacha Khan Markaz to apologise for the interior minister’s statement. He said that ANP has sacrificed a lot in the war against terrorism.