ANP chief opposes operation in Kurram

PESHAWAR: President of the Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Aimal Wali Khan on Monday accused the Khyebr Pakhtunkhwa government of having a non-serious attitude towards the Kurram crisis which he said had worsened the situation there, adding that the operation was no solution to the current crisis there.

Talking to media persons at the Bacha Khan Markaz here, he said the operation, violence or displacement of the local population had yielded no positive results in the past and the KP government had failed to resolve and find out a political solution to the current crisis in a volatile Kurram district.

Aimal Wali Khan and other central and provincial leadership of the ANP formally inaugurated weeks-long functions and gatherings of the party related to the joint death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Bacha Khan and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan at Bacha Khan Markaz.

Party leaders, Senator Daud Khan Achakzai, Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Hussain Shah Yusufzai, Syed Aqil Shah and other ANP leaders and workers were present on the occasion.

Aimal Wali Khan said the provincial government had lost writ in Kurram where main roads had been closed for the last three months while the local people were faced with a shortage of food, medicines and other essentials.

“The PTI’s government has utilized energies for the release of an individual and neglected the Kurram situation at the time when dozens of people were killed and injured from both sides,” he said.

He added that the ANP had staged a protest when the PTI leadership and provincial government were heading towards Islamabad in November, last year. “The ANP still stands with the people of Kurram and wants a peaceful and durable solution to the current crisis,” he added.

To a question, the ANP leader said that the conviction of the PTI founding chairman and his spouse in a 190m pound case had temporarily increased the political temperature in the country but he (Imran Khan) should be punished for his corruption and abuse of his power.

Earlier, during a function, the ANP leadership paid glowing tributes to Baacha Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan for their political struggle, social reforms and educational services for the Pakhtuns and the region. They vowed to adhere to the philosophy of peace and non-violence they had inherited from their leaders and mentors.

Pioneer of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan died on January 20, 1988 while his politician son Khan Abdul Wali Khan breathed his last on January 26, 2006. The ANP commemorates and observes joint death anniversary of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan from January 20 to January 26 but this time the functions and political gatherings related to the joint death anniversary are scheduled from January 20 to February 18.