SWABI: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Saturday warned that Pakhtuns would resist any move to usurp their natural resources.

“We [Pakhtuns] have a right to our natural resources, so we’ll never allow them to be diverted to pay off the International Monetary Fund’s debt,” Mr Achakzai told the “Swabi Ulasi Jirga” here.

He insisted that efforts were being made behind the scenes to deprive Pakhtuns of their natural resources under a well-planned strategy, so he and other Pakhtun leaders were reaching out to people to create awareness about it.

The PkMAP leader called for unity among Pakhtuns to serve their interests.

Urges Pakhtuns to forge unity to serve their interests

He said Pakhtuns werepeaceful people and not terrorists, as portrayed by the vested interest.

“We’re willing to play our due role to strengthen the country but can’t tolerate victimisation and exploitation,” he said.

Mr Achakzai said parliament’ssupremacywas imperative for the country’sdevelopment. He said the Senate should have powers like the National Assembly.

The PkMAP leader said every province should have the right to their resources, while all communities should work together and remain united to ensure Pakistan’s economic progress.

“Let us all pledge together that we will act according to the Constitution. There will be supremacy of the Constitution, parliament will be supreme, and the people will get justice,” he said.

Mr Achakzai claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf won the 2024 general elections but it wasn’t allowed to form the government in the centre and instead, a “selected government was imposed on people” in violation of the democratic principles.

He said things would improve if the security establishment and intelligence agencies stopped interfering in political affairs, clearing the way for constitutional, democratic and parliamentary supremacy in the country.

“Around five million Pakistani Pakhtuns work in other parts of the country and abroad. Since Pakhtun land is rich in natural resources, we want to bring those people back, give them the hope of economic prosperity, and enable them to play a key role in the national development,” he said.

The PkMAP leader rejected the 1992 water distribution accord and demanded that canals, especially a left bank canal, be constructed to supply water from the Indus River to the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said Pakistan and India couldn’t afford war, so the world won’t allow that to happen.

Meanwhile, PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser emphasised the need for an independent judiciary to uphold the rule of the law and ensure justice.

Mr Qaiser warned that when judicial decisions were influenced by external forces and access to justice was hindered, the rule of law was seriously undermined.

He said that the judiciary should firmly defend its dignity and independence, especially at a time when people were looking to it for dispensation of justice.

The PTI leader urged the Supreme Court’s chief justice to act to “restore the judiciary’s honour” and said that the people and his party would support him.

He underscored the importance of formal learning for women, especially higher education.

PkMAP provincial deputy general secretary Arshad Khan also addressed the event, where transport minister Rangaiz Khan and adviser to the chief minister Abdul Karim were also in attendance.

A declaration was issued later, demanding free electric supply power from Tarbela Dam, reduction in taxes on tobacco.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2025