QUETTA: The secretary general of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has rejected the expulsion of the party’s central and provincial leaders and described the decision of party chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai as unconstitutional and against its principles.

Speaking at a press conference after the party’s central committee meeting in Kuchlak on Thursday, Mukhtar Khan Yousafzai said the committee had termed the expulsion of senior leaders unconstitutional and against the spirit of the party’s principles.

He said it had been decided that a two-day meeting of the national congress of the party would be held on Dec 27 and 28 in Quetta, which would be attended by all members of the central commit-tee and party leaders of provincial, district and local committees.

“We invite PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai to attend the national congress of the party,” said Mr Yousafzai, who was accompanied by other party leaders.

Says central committee terms party chairman’s move unconstitutional, against principles

Mr Achakzai earlier expelled the central secretary general and other leaders from the party on charges of violating the party’s constitution, misuse of power and making efforts to form their own party.

Mr Yousafzai said the central committee discussed the prevailing national and international situation, especially relating to Afghanistan, besides organisational matters of the party in view of the expulsion of the party leaders.

He said that on Oct 9, he had requested Mr Achakzai to call the central committee’s meeting of the party to discuss serious issues being faced by the party for a long time, but despite the passage of one month, the central committee meeting was not convened.

He said that as the secretary general of the party, he convened the central committee meeting using his constitutional powers in which most members participated.

Mr Yousafzai said that before 2013, PkMAP was enjoying respect among Pakhtuns and Afghans, oppressed nations, democratic forces and people of the country “due to its historical democratic struggle for the rights of the people”. However, the party had started losing respect among the masses in the wake of organisational and ideological crises.

The PkMAP secretary general said the party’s central committee had now resolved to change this situation and restore its past status and respect through hard work and sincere efforts.

He said the central committee had endorsed all decisions taken in the national congress of the party held in Bannu in March this year. He said the party would continue its struggle for the rights of all nationalities, including Pakhtun, Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki and Panjabi.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2022