MINGORA: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai said on Friday that conspiracies against Pakhtuns had resulted in massive human losses in the region and called for unity to face challenges and restore peace.

Addressing a public gathering here at Aligarama area of Swat, he said that they had been struggling for the rights of Pakhtun. He said that provision of justice to all individuals was important to keep the society intact.

He said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had rendered a lot of sacrifices for their homeland, but still they were labelled as terrorists.

“Pakhtun are true patriots and not terrorists,” Mr Achakzai said, adding that Pakhtun areas had been converted into a dump of explosives through a conspiracy. “We should unite and collectively work for foiling such conspiracies,” he said.

Mr Achakzai said that they supported real democracy where each and every citizen was provided the basic rights.

“The PkMAP would continue its struggle for the rights of Pakhtuns,” he said and added that it was necessary for prosperous Pakistan that all citizens were treated without discrimination.

Under a pre-planned conspiracy, terrorism has been brought to Pakhtuns’ land; it should be stopped as Pakhtuns have been affected badly. “The US should leave us, because too much blood of Pakhtuns has been shed so far. We want to live in peace,” Mr Achakzai said.

He said that peace would return to the whole region if neighbouring countries stop interference in the affairs of Afghanistan.

“We want that our right over our resources should be accepted; we don’t want to break up Pakistan,” The PkMAP chairman said.

He warned that Pakhtuns would never accept any decision imposed by any usurper from Punjab.

Provincial president of PkMAP Mukhtiar Khan Yousafazi and some other party leaders also spoke on the occasion, while PML-N’s former district general sectary Malik Riaz announced joining the PkMAP along with his family members.

Opinion

Editorial

Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...
Water vision
01 May, 2026

Water vision

WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from...
Vaccine policy
01 May, 2026

Vaccine policy

PAKISTAN has finally approved its first National Vaccine Policy; a step the health ministry has rightly described as...
Labour rights
Updated 01 May, 2026

Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of...