ISLAMABAD: A large number of Pakhtuns from across the country gathered in Islamabad on Sunday and demanded that they should have their own province of ‘Afghania’.

They also demanded that provinces should have the first right on all the indigenous resources.

The gathering was held on the 43rd death anniversary of Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, a Pakhtun nationalist and political leader who was assassinated in December 1973 in Quetta.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said Pakhtuns living in both Pakistan and Afghanistan had suffered a lot and remained deprived of their basic rights. He said problems of the Pakhtuns cannot be addressed unless they got united. Moreover, he said, Pakhtuns had been living in areas from the Durand Line to Mianwali. “This 150,000 square-kilometre area in which they live should be declared the ‘Afghania’ province.”

He said 60 and 70 years old people born in Pakistan were being forced to leave the country.

“The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has also blocked their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) rendering them unable to operate bank accounts, admit their children to schools or even travel out of the country,” he said.

PkMAP chief says Pakhtuns are living in areas from Durand Line to Mianwali and this area should be called ‘Afghania’

The Pakhtun community only demands that rights available to the people of Punjab and Sindh should also be given to them. Pakistan can only exist if there is parity among all segments of society. He also said work permits should be given to the Afghan nationals as was done in the UAE.

Mr Achakzai said the role of intelligence agencies in politics was dangerous for Pakistan.

“Warmongering cannot be in the interest of Pakistan because once a war is started, the US, Russia, China and India will decide the fate of the region and we will have no choice but to surrender (nuclear weapons), all what we are proud of,” he said.

He said if Pakistan showed seriousness, there would be peace in Afghanistan within a month. “After that not only the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can be completed without any hurdle but also Afghanistan can be made a part of the CPEC,” he said.

Senator Azam Khan Musakhel said Pakistan was called the fort of Islam but it had become a prison for the Pakhtuns.

“Islam believes in parity but in Pakistan only Punjabis are enjoying all the rights while other nations such as Sindhis, Balochis and Pakhtuns are suffering.”

He said the process of sending the Afghan nationals back had also proved that they were not brought to Pakistan because of being Muslims. “There were some other interests and goals of the establishment due to which Pakistan played a role in the Afghan war and supported Jihad.”

He said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) should not be merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without the consent of the people.

Member National Assembly Abdul Qahar Wadan said the late Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai believed in tolerance and peace but faced violence throughout his life.

“He spent years in jail but never compromised on principles and always demanded rights for the Pakhtun nation,” Mr Wadan said.

He blamed the media and politicians for not projecting the actual views of the Pakhtuns.

Published in Dawn December 19th, 2016