SWAT: Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan on Friday cautioned that any attempt to repeal the 18th Constitutional Amendment would harm the federation.

He made these remarks while speaking at a workers’ convention in the PK-6 constituency here.

Aimal Wali said Pakhtuns were being exploited by ‘selfish’ and hypocritic politicians. He added the politicians calling the Afghan conflict as jihad should apologise to the people, who had realised that it was not jihad but rioting.

He alleged that during the rule of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been handed over to terrorists. “These so-called politicians once again praised the terrorists when they took over Afghanistan and ousted an elected government,” he added.

Asks advocates of Afghan jihad to apologise to people

Aimal Wali said the time had come for the Pakhtun nation to ‘wake up’. “It is time all Pakhtuns band together under the banner of ANP for their uplift,” he added.

On the occasion, local elders, including Zaminzada Bacha, Asfandiar Babu, Fazal Mola Bacha and others, joined ANP.

Meanwhile, district election commissioner Faridullah Khattak has announced plans to conduct various activities, including training sessions, to ensure women’s participation in the electoral process.

He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of a training session for women on effective voting and the awareness of their voting rights held at Swat Children Academy.

Mr Khattak said initiatives would be taken to guarantee women’s active participation in elections.

A simulated electoral exercise, including mock voting activities, was conducted on the occasion.

The election commission official emphasised the importance of such activities in increasing women’s awareness about elections and the voting process, particularly in rural areas, where female voter turnout tended to be low. He acknowledged that many women were unfamiliar with the proper voting procedures, and commended the students’ involvement in the mock activity, recognising its potential utility for them in the future.

Academy’s principal Fazal Rabi explained that the purpose of the activity was to prepare girl students for future elections. He said the students learned about the voting process, including what happens in a polling station and how votes are cast. The practical demonstration aimed to emphasise that voting was a national duty and should be done responsibly, he added.

Syed Sadiq Aziz, divisional youth coordinator of PML-N, said such activities would encourage women’s participation in elections.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2023