KARACHI:
Awami National Party President Aimal Wali Khan on Sunday called for a comprehensive and uncompromising policy to eliminate terrorism and extremism, rejecting any distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban, urging the government to address the issue with clarity and consistency.
Khan was addressing a large public gathering organized by ANP Sindh at Shahrah-e-Quaidain in Karachi to mark the 38th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, and the 20th anniversary of late ANP leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
Khan said that if the state had declared terrorists like Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan, then accountability should be applied uniformly, including the former rulers whom he accused of facilitating the entry of Taliban and terrorists into Pakistan.
He maintained that peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) could not be achieved through repeated operations and stressed that the Centre, the provincial government and all stakeholders must jointly formulate a coordinated strategy to restore in this regard.
He said the Pashtuns had no connection with TTP or PTI, adding that they were a peace-loving people and their collective sufferings were often exploited through misguided policies and misplaced accusations.
He said public issues could only be resolved through an empowered local government system and by strengthening the 18th constitutional amendment, arguing that true devolution of power was essential to address long-standing government failures.
Referring to Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza Peace Council, the ANP leader demanded that the parliament be taken into confidence, insisting that foreign policy decisions of such magnitude required democratic consultation and transparency.
Regarding the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, he described it as a reflection of systemic decay and corruption, criticizing the PPP and MQM for indulging in blame games instead of focusing on healing the wounds of affected families.
He said ANP was ready to work with all political forces for Karachi’s development, stressing that collective responsibility rather than point-scoring was required to address the city’s deep-rooted administrative and social challenges.
Lauding the party workers, Senator Aimal Wali Khan said that ANP was not just a political party but a movement that promised to carry forward the philosophy of peace and non-violence advocated by Bacha Khan and Wali Khan.
He said Pashtuns in Karachi had clearly demonstrated their allegiance to peace and ANP and reiterated that they neither supported extremism nor had any affiliation with terrorist organizations or violent political narratives.
Highlighting the situation in Tirah, he said the Pashtuns there had been abandoned and were distressed by ongoing operations, accusing the Center of indifference and the KP government of behaving irresponsibly.
