Aimal Khan demandes immediate reopening of trade routes from Bajaur to Chaman.
PESHAWAR
Awami National Party (ANP) central president Aimal Wali Khan has said that Pakhtuns have borne the brunt of violence for the past 50 years due to flawed state policies, adding that true peace and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa requires serious commitment from both government and state.
He urged authorities to reject foreign influence and find a permanent solution to terrorism in the region and warned that if the state remains indifferent, it risks losing both KP and Balochistan.
Addressing a ceremony held in connection with death anniversaries of Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan at Nishtar Hall Peshawar, Mr Khan recalled that during ANP’s tenure, the party made sacrifices to restore peace but was subsequently sidelined and expelled from parliament.
He accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of strengthening terrorist elements, alleging that under PTI’s rule, 40,000 militants were resettled, and 102 were released. ANP leader criticized the government’s failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP), calling it a major mistake.
Referring to the Taliban’s rise in Afghanistan, he questioned why the government blames Kabul for attacks despite fencing the Durand Line.
Aimal Khan reiterated ANP’s commitment to peaceful relations with neighboring countries and a democratic system in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. He demanded the immediate reopening of trade routes from Bajaur to Chaman, stating that their closure was part of a deliberate plan to suppress economic activity.
Expressing strong opposition to the PECA Act, Khan reaffirmed ANP’s support for freedom of expression. He criticized the ruling elite, stating that they have nothing to show for their politics over the past five years. “Our political history spans 100 years, and we take pride in our struggle,” he declared.
He recalled how the British had attempted to suppress Bacha Khan and his followers, yet their ideology endures while former dictators and oppressors have faded into obscurity. ANP, he said, has always advocated peace and will continue to do so.
Regarding governance, Khan criticized the KP government for its failure in education and healthcare. He noted that universities were struggling to pay salaries, while the much-touted health card system had collapsed.
He emphasized that Pakhtunkhwa’s natural resources were not a gift but an inherited right of its people.
The meeting was attended by ANP Secretary General Dr Muhammad Saleem Khan, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilor, Central Finance Secretary Senator Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Senior Vice President Syed Aqil Shah, and other party leaders and workers.
