PESHAWAR: Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that his party believes in protection of constitutional and legal rights of minorities in the country.

Speaking at a function here on Friday, he called for unity among followers of all religions and schools of thought.

A statement issued here said that a large number of Christians joined ANP on this occasion.

Mr Hussain said that poverty, unemployment, ignorance and illiteracy were the main issues while corrupt rulers had ignored key issues of the masses.

He said that corrupt rulers were fighting with each others to protect their personal interests.

He said that ANP would continue its struggle for the rights of all minorities.

He said that the tussle between ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan was just for power.

Criticising the provincial government, he said that corrupt mafia was ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that the provincial government had borrowed loans from international agencies to pay loans.

He said that ill-planned financial policies of the sitting government would create problems for the next government.

He said that the KP government could not utilise budget allocated for the Annual Development Programme.

Mr Hussain said that the KP Ehtesab Commission had been tasked to victimise political opponents.

He claimed that the soaring popularity graph of ANP had confused its rivals.

He urged his party workers to start preparations for the next general elections.