MINGORA, Sept 27: The chairman of Pukhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai has said the Pakhtoons were divided in many groups and were, therefore, being exploited by all the other nationalities.

He urged the people to unite behind the common cause of getting back their resources and become a strong nation economically.

Addressing a public meeting here at Khwazakhela on Friday, the PMAP chief said the political and religio-political parties were in the habit of using attractive slogans to get votes, but his party was deadly against it and believed in fair politics.

He said the sole aim of his party was to serve the people sincerely and to make them aware as to how they could snatch their rights from the usurpers.

He said that our elders had given sacrifices for the formation of the country, but the Pakhtoons were now being treated as second-rate citizens.

He said it was the Pakhtoon nation that blocked the Britishers’ path, but now those sacrifices have been forgotten.

Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, Achakzai said the Afghans themselves had the right to decide their own future and those interfering in Kabul’s internal affairs did not want to see the Afghan people lead a prosperous life.

He said it was time to elect fair and sincere people in the elections, who could serve the nation with zeal and fervour. He asked the rulers to give the Pakhtoons their due rights or the country’s solidarity could be at stake.

Muhammad Mukhtiar Yousufzai, provincial president of the party and a candidate from the NA 30 Swat II, also addressed the gathering and asked the people to support him.