CHARSADDA: Awami National Party Charsadda president and former MPA Shakeel Bashir Khan Umarzai has said that ANP central president Aimal Wali Khan has no connection with the May 15 Janabad Dosahra firing incident here, asking the opponents not to give it a political colour.

At a hurriedly called press conference at his residence, Mr Shakeel, flanked by his brother Afzal Bashir Khan Umarzai, alleged that MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan and Peshawar division commissioner were directly interfering in the incident to give it a political colour.

He alleged in the Janabad incident, a resident, Adam Khan committed ‘cruelty and barbarity’ by killing two innocent people. He said an FIR had been registered against the man for the double murder.

Mr Shakeel said his brother Afzal Khan had purchased over two kanals of land from Nadia Gulzar, a former wife of Adam Khan, as per the legal procedures, but despite that they held several jirgas with Adam Khan to resolve the dispute according to Pakhtun traditions. But, he regretted that Adam Khan didn’t respect the jirga decisions.

He said even ANP chief Aimal Wali Khan had also played positive role to resolve the dispute amicably.

Mr Bashir said on the day of the incident, neither he nor his brother went to Adam Khan’s house to take possession of the land. “But due to influence of MNA Fazal Mohammad, the SHO of Sardheri police station had registered a report against them and Nadia Gulzar.”

Meanwhile, ANP central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan has condemned the arrest of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan by the Islamabad police and demanded his immediate release.

In a statement issued in Peshawar on Saturday, the ANP chief emphasised that protest was a constitutional right of every citizen, particularly political workers, and suppressing this right was a hallmark of dictatorship.

He called the arrest an insult to human and Pashtun traditions. The ANP leader stressed that protecting democracy, Constitution, and human dignity was the responsibility of everyone. Aimal Wali expressed concern over the use of Section 144 against politicians, calling it unacceptable.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025