CHARSADDA: Aimal Wali Khan, the Central President of the Awami National Party (ANP), has strongly criticised the ongoing military operation in Tirah and the forced displacement of its residents. He demands an immediate halt to the operation and the swift resettlement of those who have been displaced back to their native areas. He stated that due to the current rulers’ policies, the Pakhtun nation feels helpless and abandoned, with the situation in Tirah clearly highlighting the lack of concern for the Pakhtuns.
Speaking at a grand public meeting in Charsadda, held to commemorate the 38th death anniversary of Fakhr-e-Afghan Bacha Khan and the 20th death anniversary of the Leader of Democracy, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Aimal Wali Khan asserted that the challenges faced by the Pakhtun nation, which include imposed terrorism, cannot be resolved through military operations. He pointed out that those referred to as “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” and “Fitna-ul-Kharij” were once regarded as Mujahideen under previous state policies. To effectively combat terrorism, he emphasised the need to identify its underlying causes.
He stressed that it is contradictory for the state to consider these elements as assets during one period, engaging them in chaos in Kashmir and Afghanistan under the guise of jihad, and then label them as threats in another era. He urged the state to make a definitive decision on whether these individuals are assets or terrorists, noting that changing policy every ten years will not resolve the issue.
Senator Aimal Wali Khan demanded accountability for those who have associated terrorism with religion and used it for personal gain, including generals and politicians. He called for the strictest punishments for the living and demanded the erasure of the deceased from history. He asserted that until the state makes these tough decisions, eliminating terrorism will remain impossible.
He pointed fingers at General Bajwa, Faiz Hameed, Imran Khan, and Arif Alvi, accusing them of facilitating the resettlement of terrorists and advocating for the release of 102 dangerous individuals, whom he holds responsible for the devastation of the Pakhtun nation. He urged the state to take immediate action against these facilitators of terrorism.
On the topic of foreign policy, he noted that Pakistan is currently in a critical phase and must prioritise resolving internal issues first. He urged the country to distance itself from the Gaza Peace Board and insisted that the Palestinian issue must be addressed according to the wishes of the Palestinian people. He stated that, in an effort to please the West, Pakistan has already inflicted irreparable damage on itself and its neighbours.
He criticised the closure of trade routes with Afghanistan, emphasising that while trade with India is facilitated, it is unjustifiable to deny trade with Afghanistan. He noted that the border with Afghanistan remains closed to the general public and commerce, while every incident is blamed on Afghanistan. He asserted that the border is only closed to regular citizens, remaining open for terrorists, and demanded the immediate opening of all trade routes from Bajaur to Chaman. The ANP stands firmly against terrorism and supports both its elimination and the promotion of trade.
In discussing the current political landscape, Senator Aimal Wali Khan lamented that elected assembly members are selected by the state, leading to a situation where incompetent individuals occupy positions of power due to monetary influence. He criticised the hybrid regime, claiming that decisions are made by a select few, and acknowledged that the state has admitted that past decisions made by Bajwa and Faiz were erroneous; he noted that what was wrong yesterday remains wrong today.
He described the current rulers as the most cowardly in history and expressed that the people have never witnessed such leadership. The ANP opposes the proposal to raise the voting age from 18 to 25, vowing to defend the youth’s right to vote. He argued that if an 18-year-old is eligible to pay taxes, then they should also have the right to vote.
Aimal Wali Khan called for prioritizing education, development, and peace over militarization. He contended that the resolution to Pakistan’s challenges lies not in an extraordinary individual or a hybrid regime but rather in a strong democratic parliamentary system that empowers the people. He affirmed that if the constitution is upheld as supreme and power is vested in the populace, the nation’s problems will be resolved organically. The Awami National Party remains committed to peace and is ready for local body elections, prepared to safeguard its vote at all costs. The ANP will consistently fight for the people’s right to govern.
