QUETTA: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai has said that there is no such crisis in the country that could pave way for mid-term elections and that change in society cannot be brought by use of force.

Speaking at the ‘Hal Ahwal’ programme of the Quetta Press Club here on Thursday, he criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek for their continuing sit-ins, saying leadership of the two parties had never taken part in struggles against martial laws.

Also read: Derailing democracy will harm federation, says Mehmood Achakzai

QPC president Rezaur Rehman chaired the programme.

Mr Achakzai said Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Prince Abdul Karim, Yousuf Magsi and Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo played vital role in the movement for the independence of the country.

He said these leaders endured hardships and suffered imprisonments for leading political movements against military dictatorships for the restoration of constitutional rule and democracy in the country.

PkMAP chief says change in society cannot be brought by use of force

He said his PkMAP supported political and electoral reforms and believed that change should come through constitutional amendments adopted by parliament. But, he added, PTI and PAT protesters wanted to impose change by force.

He said that in order to attain political stability rulers would have to recognise `ownership rights’ of the Pakhtun, Baloch, Sindhis, Seraikis and Punjabis on resources of their areas.

He said Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his speeches had supported the idea of granting equal rights to all people. He said the founder of nation was against corruption and nepotism in politics.

Mr Achakzai regretted that Pakhtun areas had been divided into four administrative units and called for merger of these areas to make them one province.

He said Pakhtuns had voluntarily joined Pakistan and they still wanted to live in the state, but asked rulers to accept merger of Pakhtun areas into one single province besides recognising Pakhtuns’ ownership rights on the resources of their areas.

Mr Achakzai praised the participation of a Pakistan delegation led by President Mamnoon Hussain in the oath-taking ceremony of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan should refrain from interfering in each other’s affairs as this would help improve relations between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2014