A grand public rally was held in Karachi under the auspices of the Awami National Party (ANP) in connection with the 38th death anniversary of Bacha Khan and 20th death anniversary of his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan that fall on January 20 and January 26 respectively.
Addressing the gathering, ANP Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan said the most serious issue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the Tirah operation, but regrettably the entire country was acting as a silent spectator to it.
He stated that enforced displacements in the name of operation were completely unacceptable, as elderly people, women and children were being forced to migrate during severe cold and snowfall.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also a part of Pakistan and the state must genuinely understand the pain and problems of its people. He urged the provincial and federal governments to sit together immediately and devise a serious and lasting solution to the issue.
He also questioned international human rights organisations over their silence on what he said violations of human rights in Pashtun areas.
Aimal said the Pashtun nation was repeatedly being linked to terrorism and extremism, which was not only unjust but also contrary to facts. He said the Pashtun nation had always chosen the path of peace, democracy and moderation.
He added that the differentiation between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorism had caused great harm to Pakistan, and that indiscriminate action should be taken against those involved in terrorism and their facilitators.
He demanded that trade routes closed in the name of terrorism be reopened immediately and border laws made simpler and more transparent so that people’s daily lives were not disrupted.
The ANP leader said Afghanistan was not an enemy but a brotherly country, and the solution to problems lied in cooperation, not closures.
He also raised questions regarding Pakistan’s inclusion in the Gaza Peace Committee and demanded that the National Assembly and Senate be taken into confidence on this matter. Such decisions should reflect the wishes of the Palestinian people, he remarked.
The senator said Karachi was the economic hub of the country, but mismanagement, corruption and lawlessness had severely harmed the city, and incidents like the Gul Plaza blaze were proof of the failure of the entire system.
He said the solution to such problems was not new provinces but constitutional reforms, a strong local government system and transparent governance.
In conclusion, he said the ANP would continue its struggle within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan for peace, democracy, provincial autonomy and equal rights for all nationalities.
