Flogging of girl: 'Saboteurs' of Pakistan peace deal warned

Conspiracies by vested interests are going on to sabotage the peace accord signed by the government in Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP) for establishment of peace in the restive Swat valley and concerted efforts are needed to thwart such plots, the Awami National Party (ANP) said here on Sunday.
The coalition government in the NWFP, which signed a peace deal with the militants, is led by the ANP, while the party is also coalition partner in the federal government.
“The release of video showing so-called flogging of a girl in Swat by some people with vested interests is aimed at sabotaging the Swat peace accord,” said ANP Spokesman Senator Zahid Khan while talking to NP. “The elements involved in propagating the issue want to stop President Asif Ali Zardari from signing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation,” he said.
The ANP spokesperson taunted as to where were the so-called civil society activists, who are making hue and cry over the so-called flogging issue, when people were being slaughtered in Swat? He said the ANP chief, Asfandyar Wali Khan, always talked about peace and urged everybody to work for achievement of this cherished goal but at that time the same people laughed at the ANP leadership.
“But when we succeeded in our efforts to restore the Swat peace, the same elements are now out to sabotage the peace accord. By doing so, they are not serving the national interests rather it is a great disservice to the country and the nation,” he said.
Senator Zahid Khan confidently stated that the incident in question did not occur in Swat and this baseless issue of so-called flogging has been raised by people of non-governmental organisations mere to mint money from the foreign donors. He warned that if the peace agreement negotiated by the ANP is sabotaged, the people involved in this sabotage would be responsible for consequences.
“We will fulfill the promises made with the nation. When our blood was being shed there were many who were rejoicing,” the ANP secretary information said. “Although all steps agreed to in the peace deal have yet not been implemented, we are rapidly heading towards a complete success,” he said.
Senator Zahid Khan said the issues that could harm the peace deal should not be raised at this point of time. He said there was immense pressure on the ANP from the US and many other countries not to sign a peace deal but the ANP has succeeded in convincing many of them regarding the efficacy of the accord.