KOHAT: The Pakhtukhwa Milli Awami Party president Mehmood Khan Achakzai has declared that the country is passing through the worst economic and political crises.

Addressing a news conference at the Kohat Press Club here on Tuesday, he observed that if the people of Balochistan got their due share in resources there would be no unrest there.

Mr Achakzai emphasised that all the political parties should pluck up courage and raise voice for the rights of the poor. He was of the view that judicious distribution of resources among the federating units would create job opportunities there and alleviate poverty there.

He clarified that a wrong impression was being created that PkMAP was against the armed forces and the intelligence agencies. He stressed that strong army and intelligence agencies were indispensable for the internal and external security of the state. “But unfortunately the establishment’s role in politics over the decades has weakened democracy,” he said, adding no country in the world allowed the army to intervene in politics.

Mr Achakzai said his party was for giving more perks and concessions to the army so that it could perform its assigned role instead of politicising itself.

The PkMAP chief said people from Chitral to Sibbi had given sacrifices for independence of their country, rejecting monetary gains offered by the colonial powers.

He called for full independence of the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in future. He said the elected members of the National Assembly and the Senate should be allowed to use their votes freely when electing the prime minister and the Senate chairman and deputy chairman.

HOUSE LOOTED: Burglars looted money, gold ornaments and other items from a house in the posh KDA Township.

House owner Syed Zainul Abideen Bokahri told the police on Tuesday that he had gone to Jand area along with his family for three days. “On return we found the locks of our house broken with 10 tola gold, Rs500,000 cash, a UPS and a TV set missing,” he added.

SHO Javed Khan said the police had registered case and were trying to locate the criminals.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2021