SWABI: Awami National Party leader and former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday called for addressing the current political deadlock in the province through dialogue, saying the impasse is neither in the interest of the province nor beneficial for its residents.
Addressing a gathering and speaking to the media in the Chota Lahor area here, Mr Hoti said that the manner in which the province had been governed over the last 13 years had caused a quagmire of problems.
He said that the scale of waste and plunder of the province’s resources in those years was unparalleled.
Referring to the imposition of the governor’s rule and emergency in the province, the ANP leader said that dysfunctional Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had created conditions that led to the current political and administrative situation.
He said that when the ANP ruled the province, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had repeatedly called for accountability and after that government came to an end, the ANP leaders faced accountability and presented their accounts when asked to do so.
“Now, the question is whether the PTI will also be questioned and held accountable like us,” he said.
The ANP leader said he had no objection to the reopening of accountability proceedings relating to his five-year tenure as the chief minister.
He, however, said the events of the last 13 years in the province must also be scrutinised.
“Accountability will remain incomplete without examining the PTI’s performance during its years in power,” he insisted.
Mr Hoti said that the PTI had been given 13 years to govern the province and that its priorities should have been development, public welfare and improving people’s lives, but it pursued a politics of confrontation and division, prioritising its own interests over public ones.
He said that the province had consequently missed numerous development opportunities during that period.
The ANP leader called for impartial and fair accountability, saying the process should be genuine instead of being driven by political victimisation.
He added that after transparent accountability was ensured, outstanding issues between the provincial and federal governments should be addressed.
Mr Hoti said that he didn’t wish to get into the debate over whether the former PTI government had failed to make efforts to resolve its disputes with the Centre or whether the federal government had failed to cooperate with the province.
On the imposition of governor’s rule, he said the ANP considered it an undemocratic measure.
The ANP leader, however, said since the governor’s rule had been imposed, attention should be directed towards resolving the province’s genuine problems.
He identified terrorism as the foremost challenge facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the closure of trade routes had also inflicted losses on the people.
Referring to the governor’s statement that the Centre and KP have finally come on the same page, Mr Hoti said that the opportunity should be used to address the province’s fundamental problems instead of focusing solely on anti-encroachment operations.
He urged authorities to prioritise effective resolution of the longstanding challenges related to security, trade, employment, healthcare, education and finances in the province.
Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026
