PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain has accused Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of diverting public attention from the province’s pressing problems by staging political dramas and engaging in internal disputes.

Addressing a gathering held in connection with joining of new members in Nowshera, Kundaro and Risalpur on Friday, he said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was busy staging political theatrics on a container while the province’s situation continued to deteriorate.

He said the incumbent and former chief ministers were fighting among themselves while the people of the province were suffering from worsening governance, inflation and insecurity.

“These are remnants of General Faiz Hameed. They were not elected by the people but were selected,” Mr Hussain said, adding that the people had not seen a good day since the PTI came to power in the province.

Says people should not be made to suffer due to PTI’s political agenda

He said struggling for the release of their leader was the PTI workers’ right, but questioned why the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should suffer for it. He alleged that the provincial leadership was neither capable of securing Mr Khan’s release nor serious about the matter.

Mr Hussain said rising inflation had made life difficult for the people, while the government remained indifferent to their hardships. He said frequent increases in petroleum prices had added to the difficulties of people struggling to make both ends meet.

The ANP leader questioned what practical steps the provincial government has taken to secure the province’s rights, particularly with regard to implementation of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

He said educational institutions were in a state of decline and the health sector had been undermined in the name of the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) reforms. He warned that those responsible would have to account for every penny allegedly misappropriated from the provincial exchequer.

He alleged that Imran Khan and former Inter-Services Intelligence chief retired Lt Gen Faiz Hameed had facilitated the resettlement of 40,000 militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He further claimed that former president Arif Alvi had secured the release of more than 100 militants through presidential orders.

He said the ANP believed in peace and would continue to oppose terrorism under all circumstances.

Reacting to a recent statement by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Mr Hussain urged her to study history instead of blaming neighbouring provinces for terrorism.

Meanwhile, a number of people belonging to different political parties announced their decision to join the ANP at the gathering. Welcoming the new members, Mr Hussain said the growing public interest in his party reflected confidence in its ideology and political narrative. He welcomed them to the political movement founded by Bacha Khan.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026