ALPURI: The provincial president of the Awami National Party (ANP), Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said on Monday Pakhtuns were no longer willing to tolerate lawlessness, terrorism, and oppression on their land.
“Pakhtuns want peace on their land and are not terrorists but peace-loving people,” he said while addressing a gathering in Shahpur, Shangla, marking the 37th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) and the 19th anniversary of Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
Mian Iftikhar criticized the successive governments after accusing them of treating Pakhtuns unfairly, urging Pashtuns to back ANP to change this course.Other speakers at the event included Mutawakkil Khan Advocate, Rahmat Ali Khan, Hameed Toofan and Faisal Zeb Khan.
The event was also attended by ANP Shangla chapter president Muhammad Azam Khan, Aurangzeb Khan, Dr Dayed Tirmizi, Zafar Gul Dada Shahpur, and other party leaders.Speakers highlighted the life, sacrifices, and services of Bacha Khan for the Pakhtuns. They also spoke about Khan Abdul Wali Khan’s contributions, emphasizing that Bacha Khan was the true leader and representative of the Pakhtuns.
The ANP leaders said keeping Bacha Khan’s ideology alive was their duty, as he was a hero who dedicated much of his life to the freedom of his people, spending years in prison under oppressive rulers. On this occasion, Mian Iftikhar administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers of the Pakhtun Student Federation in Shangla.