PESHAWAR: A three-day ‘Bacha Khan Peace Festival’ kicked off at the University of Agriculture here on Monday with Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain inaugurating the event.

The festival, organised by Pakhtun Students Federation, features bookstalls, traditional food, and cultural exhibits.

Addressing the inaugural gathering, Iftikhar Hussain condemned the recent treatment of Pakhtuns in Punjab and Islamabad, calling it unacceptable. He asked whether Pakhtuns were being treated as the equal citizens of the country.

Hussain criticised the federal and Punjab governments for their handling of the situation, urging them to ‘treat Pakhtuns with dignity and respect’.

The ANP leader also accused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of exploiting Pakhtuns for its ‘vested interests’. He lamented that PTI workers were left to face the consequences alone, while the party leadership fled from the Islamabad protest.

Hussain expressed concerns over the rising incidents of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, blaming the international forces and their facilitators for perpetuating violence in the region. He emphasised that terrorism was a lucrative business for these elements, “who were profiting from the blood of Pakhtuns”.

The festival aims to promote peace, tolerance and cultural harmony, with a focus on the philosophy of non-violence espoused by Bacha Khan. The event will continue until December 11.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024