DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Saturday termed the closure of CNG an “injustice” to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province was being deprived of its own natural resources.
Addressing an induction ceremony in Pabbi (Amankot), he said gas was produced in the province but remained unavailable even for domestic use, while industries in Punjab continued to benefit from it.
He said that under the Constitution, resources belonged to the people of the area where they were produced, adding that denying gas to KP residents was against the law.
Criticising the provincial government, Mr Hussain said its performance over the past 13 years had been “zero”, alleging that its achievements were limited to meetings, rallies and levelling accusations against political opponents.
He said the public mandate was being undermined and added that removing the current rulers had become necessary to resolve people’s problems.
Expressing concern over the electoral process, he alleged a lack of transparency and claimed that elections in Pakistan were marred by rigging and bias. He termed the most recent polls as “highly controversial”, alleging open bidding for seats and vote-buying, which he said undermined democracy.
Mr Hussain said that individuals elected through money could not genuinely represent the people, stressing that only those chosen through public trust could effectively advocate for national interests.
He said that despite being rich in natural resources, including minerals, the province’s population remained deprived. Due to limited employment opportunities, he added, many young people were forced to seek work abroad.
He said that although the 18th Constitutional Amendment granted provinces authority over their resources, its implementation remained weak, effectively undermining provincial autonomy.
The ANP leader further claimed that poor governance had led to a financial and administrative crisis in provincial institutions. He cited the University of Peshawar as an example, alleging that it lacked funds to pay salaries to employees.
He urged the public to distinguish between genuine leadership and vested interests, stressing that unity and collective struggle were essential for securing rights.
On the occasion, several individuals from PTI and PTIP, along with their families, announced their decision to join the ANP. Mr Hussain welcomed the new members into the party.
