PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party on Friday opposed the provincial government’s policy of privatising educational institutions, declaring it unacceptable and detrimental to the future of the local children.

Addressing a ceremony at Bacha Khan Markaz here, where the provincial cabinet of the Malgari Ustazan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took oath, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the government’s responsibility was to establish and strengthen educational institutions, not to sell or outsource them.

“We will not allow educational institutions to be destroyed in the name of outsourcing. This is a conspiracy to deprive Pakhtun children of their right to education,” he said.

Mr Hussain said that providing free and quality education was a constitutional obligation of the state.

Party leader Iftikhar voices concern over deteriorating law, order situation

Criticising the current government, he said that despite ruling the province for over a decade, it had failed to establish new institutions and was instead bent on selling existing schools and their lands.

The ANP leader said that during the party’s government, a network of educational institutions was established despite numerous challenges.

He questioned where provincial funds had been spent over the last 13 years. He also flayed the reduction in pensions of retired government employees, saying inflation is rising while the poor are being pushed further into hardship.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, the ANP leader said the provincial government had “completely failed” to ensure peace, with militancy resurging in the region. He criticised both the federal and provincial governments for their inability to eliminate terrorism, stressing that the National Action Plan (NAP) already provided a consensus roadmap.

“If peace can be ensured in Punjab and Sindh, why not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan?” he asked, adding that people had been left at the mercy of militants while authorities remained passive. He demanded full implementation of the National Action Plan without delay.

On regional developments, Mr Hussain welcomed efforts aimed at resolving tensions between Iran and the United States, saying any positive role for peace was commendable.

He noted that parliamentary representatives and military leadership were making encouraging efforts for stability.

“We have never supported war and never will. We believe in peace across the world,” he said.

The ANP leader said that if dialogue could resolve the Iran-US dispute, similar negotiations should be pursued between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said that lasting peace between the two countries required mutual respect for sovereignty and urged the government to open all trade routes with Afghanistan.

“If trade with India is possible, why not with Afghanistan?”

Mr Hussain also called for fulfilling promises made to the merged districts to end long-standing deprivation, urging unity among people for peace, rights and control over resources in the province.

“We remain committed to raising our voice for the rights and peace of our people at every forum,” he said, reiterating his party’s struggle for parliamentary supremacy, provincial autonomy and strengthening of democracy.

The event was attended by ANP leaders, including provincial office-bearers and members of Malgari Ustazan, in large numbers.

Mr Hussain administered oath to the newly-elected cabinet’s members and expressed hope that they would perform their responsibilities effectively.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026