ANP leader sceptical about level playing field

PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA: Awami National Party (ANP) provincial President Aimal Wali Khan on Saturday said a level-playing field was not possible as some elements had started facilitating a particular political party.

Talking to the media at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar and Charsadda, he said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf wanted ‘level-playing fields’ and friendly atmosphere like 2013 and 2018 general elections but this time they did not even get a ‘field’ for February 8 polls. “In Pakistan, a level-playing field for each and every political party is impossible and the establishment is once again active to facilitate a particular group,” he said without mentioning any political party.

The ANP arranged a seminar at Bacha Khan Markaz in connection with the 36th death anniversary of noted Pakhtun nationalist and non-violent philosopher Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan known as Bacha Khan. The seminar was titled “Bacha Khan and Pakhtun’s natural resources” where various Pakhtun intellectuals and academicians presented their research papers on rivers, water, gas, oil, mines and minerals discovered on the soil of the Pakhtuns. Adil Khattak presented his research paper on oil and gas reserves in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Akbar Hoti Advocate on water resources while Dr Noor Jehan presented her research paper on minerals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

ANP leaders Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Dr Khadim Hussain, Dr Fazl Rahim Marwat and former MPA Samar Haroon Bilour were present on the occasion.

The ANP leaders paid rich tributes to Bacha Khan and reiterated their stance to continue work for permanent peace on the soil of Pakhtuns, promote his non-violence philosophy and love for education and democracy.

Talking to reporters, Aimal Wali lauded the timely response from the armed forces of Pakistan to Iran and said that each and every state institution must remain within its constitutional domains and perform its professional duties.

He said the judiciary should perform its constitutional obligation, adding that there are certain elements within the judges who still had a soft corner for particular groups and parties.

About the upcoming general election, the ANP leader was optimistic that the polls would be held in a transparent way but asked the security forces to ensure a peaceful atmosphere before and during the polls.

He once again held responsible PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, Lt-Gen (Retd) Faiz Hamid and President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi for the resettlement of militants in the country.

Aimal Wali said that he had moved the Peshawar High Court against the resettlement of the militants in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the ones, who had facilitated the return of over 40,000 militants, should be taken to task. He said that under what deal, around 102 hardened militants were released from jails during the PTI government. The ANP leader said that the free militants were responsible for the killing of innocent people. He said that peace was a prerequisite for development, adding that the militants ruined Pakistan’s economy. He said that the ANP workers were the followers of Bacha Khan, who advocated the philosophy of non-violence and urged the Pakhtuns to acquire knowledge to compete with the world.