PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Mian Iftikhar Hussain has expressed concern over the imposition of emergency and Governor Rule in the province, saying that the ANP will not support any undemocratic move.
He said that the solution to the province’s problems does not lie in extraordinary administrative measures or suspending the democratic system, but in the supremacy of the Constitution, parliamentary democracy, provincial autonomy and respect for the public mandate.
Mian Iftikhar said that ANP has already clarified its principled stance regarding the imposition of emergency and Governor Rule and still stands by it, because it is not the solution to the problems.
He said that such measures that weaken the people’s right to rule and democratic institutions are alarming for the democratic system. He said that ANP has stood against undemocratic measures in the past and will not compromise on democratic principles in the future either.
The provincial president of ANP said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been facing unrest, terrorism, economic difficulties and administrative problems for the past several years.
In such circumstances, the people of the province should also get their constitutional right to their resources along with peace, protection, employment, education and health facilities.
He said that if the law and order situation is alarming, then all relevant institutions should fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. Along with adopting a clear and effective strategy to end terrorism, it is also necessary to win the public’s confidence.
According to Mian Iftikhar, lasting peace cannot be guaranteed merely by changing the administrative structure.
He said that the Awami National Party does not change its principles on the basis of any political party’s government or opposition. According to him, the focus of ANP’s politics is the protection of democracy, non-violence, national rights, provincial autonomy and the people’s right to rule. He said that instead of new political strife and uncertainty, the people of the province need peace, stability, democratic rights and control over their resources.
The provincial president of the Awami National Party said that the Awami National Party will continue to play its constitutional, democratic and political role for the protection of the rights of the people of the province.
According to him, the solution to the problems of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lies not in increasing political confrontation but in adherence to democratic principles, fulfilment of constitutional responsibilities and restoration of public confidence.
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