Alleged resettlement of militants: ANP decides to move SC against PHC verdict

PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) has decided to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Peshawar High Court (PHC)’s decision to dismiss its writ petition against the alleged resettlement of militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PHC recently rejected the petition filed by ANP provincial President Aimal Wali Khan, who had sought the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the resettlement of militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Expressing his stance on the matter, Aimal Wali said that the ANP would not abandon this issue and it would remain committed to fighting for the rights and peace of the Pakhtuns and their land. “I am not disheartened by the court’s decision. Whenever history examines this verdict, my position will be recorded on the side of truth,” he asserted.

He said the ANP would take the case to the Supreme Court to challenge what he described as an “unjust decision.”Aimal Wali claimed that the resettlement of 40,000 militants poses a significant threat to the security of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He criticized the PHC’s ruling, which labeled the resettlement as a mere “administrative decision”. According to him, the court prioritized government policy over public interest on this critical issue. “Is it not the fundamental duty of the judiciary to protect the Constitution and uphold public rights?” Aimal Wali questioned, adding that the decision was not only regrettable but also a grave threat to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

“The decision-makers must realize that the people of these regions are paying the price for this administrative policy with their blood,” he remarked. He emphasized that the ANP would never accept any policy that compromised on the security and peace of the Pashtun people. “We will not allow our land to be left at the mercy of terrorists and their supporters. As advocates of peace, we will continue to raise our voices on every available platform to safeguard future generations,” he said. It was learnt that Babar Khan Yousafzai had been assigned the task of preparing the appeal for the Supreme Court to challenge the PHC’s verdict.