ANP leader grieves over Afghan airstrike on a seminary

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow over Afghan airstrike on a religious seminary in Kunduz killing several innocent children and civilians during a graduation ceremony of students.

In a statement issued here, Mian Iftikhar said that it was highly deplorable that innocent children were targeted by security forces, adding that unfortunately terrorists’ organizations were using children as a shield for their own protection.

Calling for an independent inquiry into the attack he said that so far there wasn’t any confirmed report about the incident and due to controversial statements and videos released by terrorists on social media the people were in suspicion.

He said it should be made clear that who was involved in the attack; whether it was carried out by terrorists or security forces and until now how many terrorists were killed in the attack.

Expressing concern, the ANP leader said that if the attack was carried out by terrorists then it was so alarming and dangerous situation.

He said the situation would not clear until an independent inquiry is conducted. He said the terrorists wanted to be targeted among general public so that they could gain sympathies in case of loss of innocent people and children.

Mian Iftikhar expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and said that they should be condoled so that the terrorists might not succeed in their nefarious designs of getting public sympathies.

He said the security forces should have to ensure protection of lives of innocent people during any crackdown, operation or strike against terrorists.

He said in the existing circumstances Pak-Afghan should have to review their foreign and internal policies and make those in vital national interests.