PESHAWAR: Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Friday urged both Islamabad and Kabul to resolve their issues through dialogue and open bilateral trade routes in their “larger” interest.

He also appreciated veteran politician Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and declared him a symbol of ideological steadfastness of the nationalist movement.

“Haji Bilour has stepped away from parliamentary politics and not from politics itself,” he said during a visit to the Peshawar Press Club.

Mr Hussain congratulated newly-elected president of the club M Riaz, general secretary Alamgir Khan and other cabinet members on their poll victory.

Party leader Iftikhar says internal, foreign policies require review

ANP KP senior vice president Syed Aqil Shah, spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim and joint secretary Hamid Toofan accompanied him.

Mr Hussain said Haji Bilour represented the essence of the nationalist movement and remained firmly committed to its ideology from the era of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan to Asfandyar Wali Khan and the current party leadership under Aimal Wali Khan.

He said Haji Bilour had withdrawn only from parliamentary politics but continued to remain active in politics and was a regular member of all party forums. Calling him “the identity of Peshawar” and the pride of the nationalist movement, Mr Hussain paid tribute to his services and political struggle.

The ANP leader said the Bilour family had made unmatched sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, noting that Haji Bilour’s son Shabbir Bilour, brother Bashir Bilour and nephew Haroon Bilour were martyred, but the family’s resolve did not weaken.

He said Haji Bilour himself had been targeted multiple times in terrorist attacks and survived and therefore, he could rightly be described as a “living martyr”.

Commenting on the state of parliamentary politics, Mr Hussain said unconstitutional interference had become a national tragedy, where winning candidates were made to lose and defeated candidates were brought into power.

He said despite sacrifices made for the country and the people, his party’s path had been obstructed in elections.

The ANP leader said that problems could not be resolved unless policies were formulated in the public interest.

Recalling the era of military ruler General Ziaul Haq, he said Pakistan was pushed into a “foreign war” in return for dollars, the consequences of which continued to be suffered.

“Others earned the dollars, but the Pashtun nation is still paying the price,” he said.

Mr Hussain said that a serious review of internal, foreign and economic policies was essential.

He expressed concern over the province’s worsening economic situation and said the NFC Award was not being issued, while the provincial government had failed to secure the province’s rights and dues from the centre. He added that the federal government too was avoiding its constitutional responsibilities, and said both the centre and the province needed to show seriousness in the prevailing situation.

Referring to the situation in Tirah, he criticised the provincial government for what he termed a lack of seriousness. He said jirgas held so far had involved the district administration working under the provincial government, yet the government was trying to evade responsibility. He said ensuring law and order was primarily the provincial government’s responsibility, though the federal government could not absolve itself either.

He said it was unacceptable to leave the public to suffer due to mutual disputes and uncertainty. He also stated that medical treatment for every sick prisoner was a constitutional and legal right. “I do not know about Imran Khan’s illness, but under the jail manual treatment is the right of all,” he said, adding that providing legitimate rights to all prisoners was the government’s responsibility. He also urged the PTI to act responsibly and avoid giving every matter a political colour.

On Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Mr Hussain demanded that all trade routes with Afghanistan be opened immediately, saying it was unacceptable to suspend trade and business activity by using terrorism as a justification. He claimed that Pakistan had facilitated the United States in the process that brought Afghanistan’s current rulers to power.

Questioning the continued restrictions, he said that if trade could continue with India despite strained relations, there was no justification for keeping trade links with Afghanistan suspended. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was suffering the most due to the closure of trade routes and such measures were further increasing hardships for the Pashtun population already affected by terrorism.

Mr Hussain said the ANP supported peaceful, cordial and equal relations with all neighbouring countries and stressed that both Pakistan and Afghanistan must respect each other’s sovereignty.

He said that war was not a solution to any problem and that the only sustainable way to resolve disputes and tensions was through negotiations and dialogue.

The ANP leader said if priorities were set correctly, Pakistan could benefit greatly from its geographical location.

He said the ANP had always supported freedom of expression, an independent press, supremacy of the Constitution and parliament, and democracy. Paying tribute to the journalist community,

Mr Hussain said the media carried heavy responsibilities in difficult times and expressed hope they would continue to play their role for constitutional supremacy and press freedom.

He added that the ANP would continue to raise its voice on the journalists’ rights and challenges faced by the media.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026