LANDI KOTAL: Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan on Wednesday said the party would soon move the Peshawar High Court against the approval ofthe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals Sector Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2019, by the provincial assembly.

Addressing a convention of ANP workers in the hujra of Malik Darya Khan Zakhakhel here, the ANP leader said the residents of tribal districts had yet to reap the benefits of the Fata-KP merger as the government was bent on grabbing all resources of the region.

He said the party would raise voice for the rights of the residents of tribal districts at all available forums.

Mr Aimal said his party welcomed and supported the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor on the country’s eastern border and expected of the government to make similar arrangements on the western border as well to improve trade and people-to-people contacts with Afghanistan.

“If Sikhs are allowed to come to Pakistan (Kartarpur) without visa, why the visa-free movement is denied to the people living on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border,” he said.

The ANP leader said it was an injustice to Pakistani Pakhtuns, who had decades old and deep- rooted cultural and linguistic ties with their Afghan brethren.

He demanded an unconditional absorption of all Khasadar and Levies personnel into the regular police force and their training.

Mr Aimal also called for the recruitment of more and more educated youths from tribal districts by the law-enforcement agencies.

He appreciated the political awareness of the residents and said their active participation in the recent assembly elections was a welcome sign for the strengthening of democracy in the region.

The ANP leader said the defeat of pro-government tribal maliks and wealthy people in elections also showed the political maturity of the residents of tribal districts.

He criticised the government over media restrictions and escalating prices, especially of food items, and said the ruling PTI had no plans to fix those problems.

Mr Aimal said his party believed in freedom of expression and won’t allow anyone to suppress the voices of the already oppressed Pakhtuns, especially those living in tribal districts.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019