LAKKI MARWAT: Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has said that a so-called war has been imposed on Pakhtuns to usurp their resources and deprive them of their rights.

“The war being fought on our soil in the name of Islam and jihad is not between infidels and believers rather it is a conspiracy against Pakhtun nation,” he told a public meeting in Zangikhel on Thursday.

He said that the Pakhtun soil saw a blood bath during the last over two decades. “Even our mosques and hujras were not spared. Men, women and children were massacred brutally,” he added.

MPA Shagufta Malik, former MPA Yasmin Zia and ANP district president Malik Ali Sarwar also spoke on the occasion. Former MPA Gul Sahib Khan, Taimoor Baz Khan, Dr Bashir, Malik Riaz, Engineer Latifullah Khan, Hamayun Marwat and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

Aimal Wali also talked to party activists in Naurang, Tajazai and Lakki city. He also addressed public meetings in Begukhel, Darra Pezu, Naurang, Kalan and Wanda Amir where a number of local elders along with their families and supporters joined ANP.

The ANP leader said that the people who imposed war in the name of jihad on Pakhtuns had no knowledge about the real spirit of holy war. He said that Pakhtuns were preachers of peace and non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan and they could not be deceived in the name of religion.

He said that the so-called war pushed the Pakhtuns into darkness. He said that ANP adhered to the non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan and had a clear stance on terrorism.

Aimal Wali blasted the provincial government and said that it failed to protect the rights of the province. “The provincial rulers are incompetent and lack capability to get the royalty of electricity from centre,” he added.

He also criticised the rules for their silence over the issue of net hydel profit and made it clear that his party would not compromise on the rights of Pakhtuns.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2021