KARACHI:BoththeAwami National Party and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party have demanded that the government stop `illegal arrest of innocent Pakhtuns` under the cover of antiterrorism measures.

Drawing attention of the people towards `midnight raids` being carried out in Punjab and the federal capital in the last couple of days, the parties said `innocent` Pakhtun workers and traders were being harassed and the sanctity of their `chador andchardeewari` was being violated in the name of identification.

Speaking at two separate press conferences at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, ANP Sindh general secretary Younus Buneri, accompanied by party leaders Shahid Ali Khan, Haji Aurangzeb, Ameer Nawab and Noorullah Achakzai, said that if Pakhtuns` `uncalled for` arrests under the cover of operation Raddul Fasaad were not stopped, they reserved their right to protest under the Constitution.

In reply to a question Mr Buneri said in Karachi alone700 people had been arrested on`fictitious`charges.

The ANP leader said they were not against the operation as for the stability of the country elimination of terrorism was a must, but it should be against criminal elements, because every Pakhtun was not a terrorist. He said if the present state policies were not changed the country would further weaken because it was adding a sense of deprivation among Pakhtun citizens.

PkMAP Sindh president Nazeer Khan, expressing concern over the arrest of Pakhtuns, said projecting them before the world as ter-700 people had been arrested on`fictitious`charges.

The ANP leader said they were not against the operation as for the stability of the country elimination of terrorism was a must, but it should be against criminal elements, because every Pakhtun was not a terrorist. He said if the present state policies were not changed the country would further weaken because it was adding a sense of deprivation among Pakhtun citizens.

PkMAP Sindh president Nazeer Khan, expressing concern over the arrest of Pakhtuns, said projecting them before the world as ter-rorists had no justification.

Calling to stop action against Pakhtuns immediately, he said no one could be allowed to violate the sanctity of Pakhtun homes.

The PkMAP leader, accompanied by Sikander Khan Yusufzai, Sabir Achakzai, Bashir Khan Mandokhel, Nooruddin Tareen and Fazal Wudood, further said that the life of Pakhtuns had been made difficult across the country, particularly in Sindh and Punjab, where after arrest they were treated inhumanly. He said the use of force through security personnel could not ensure durable peace.