LOWER DIR: Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has said that the only solution to the challenges the country is facing is to conduct free, fair, transparent and timely elections in the country.

He was addressing a workers’ convention in Rabat area on Tuesday.

ANP central spokesperson Zahid Khan, Lower Dir president Haji Bahadar Khan, senior vice-president Malik Sajjad Khan Yousafzai, Malik Mohammad Ayub, Malik Mohammad Zeb and others also spoke.

Aimal Wali declared that the war on Pakhtuns’ land was only meant to occupy their resources. “Pakhtuns are patriotic Pakistanis, but they are being declared as traitors,” he insisted, adding that the ‘silence’ of ulema on the ongoing terrorism incidents and suicide attacks in the country was beyond understanding.

Aimal Wali said the only solution to the problems lied in the fair and just distribution of resources among people. He said the federation got strengthened through the 18th Constitutional Amendment, giving provinces the autonomy.

He warned that Pakistan’s unity would be at stake if the amendment was rolled back. He alleged the 2018 elections were manipulated to impose a ‘blue-eyed’ politician upon the nation. He said PTI’s former chairman Imran Khan was now publicly insulting those who had brought him to power.

The ANP leader claimed that both the PTI chief and his election symbol had vanished. He warned against imposing another ‘blue-eyed’ person on Pakistan in the Feb 8 elections.

He said ANP had completed mega development projects in Lower Dir despite the fact that the people had not voted for it in the past. He claimed the party would form the next government in the province.

He promised shifting Wapda headquarters from Lahore to Peshawar if ANP formed the next government.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2023