SWABI: Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Provincial President of Awami National Party (ANP), has lashed out at the provincial government and claimed that there is no governance in the province at all.
He expressed these views while attending a membership drive in Tehsil Topi, and he further pointed out that the situation of terrorism has become so bad that people from areas such as Tirah have to abandon their homes; commenting to the effect that the Chief Minister and his cabinet are doing nothing other than taking personal trips instead of tackling the problems of the public.
The ruling party was urged by him to put the development of the province ahead of political agendas. Stating that the PTI can pursue its politics, he voiced that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa citizens should not pay the price for it, thus emphasizing that provincial autonomy had not brought about the desired result owing to years of misrule.
By mentioning ANP’s contribution in fighting terrorism, Mian Iftikhar Hussain claimed that the party took part in peace jirgas and put forward good ways for security, provincial rights, and problem-solving. In addition, he stated that the ANP facilitated inwards of more than 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) being successfully resettled.
Hussain condemned the cutting off of trading routes with Afghanistan under the pretext of security and termed it as a measure that the Pashtun economy would not be able to bear and at the same time a restriction on regional trade. He called for diplomatic means to resolve conflicts and particularly pointed out that the Pashtun territory should not be turned into a war arena for the international power struggle.
The ANP leader not only admonished the party but also summoned the workers to continue their fight for the rights of the Pashtun people, asserting that the opponents might oust them from the legislature but they cannot prevent their political movement.
Concerning the events to come, he made it known that the ANP would start the celebrations of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan on January 20 at the Bacha Khan Centre, where the Central President Emil Wali Khan would be present, with the early festivities devoted to Bacha Khan and Wali Khan. A grand public jalsa is scheduled for January 23 in Charsadda. He instructed all district and local leaders to ensure maximum participation.
The event in Topi also saw dozens of leaders and workers from various parties join ANP, along with key figures including Central Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sardar Hussain Babak, Provincial General Secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, District President Asif Rehman, and other local leaders.
