ANP leader slams bid to politicise land dispute

CHARSADDA: The local leadership of the Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday said the land dispute over which two persons were killed in the Janabad area of Charsadda must not be politicized.

“ANP President Aimal Wali Khan had made sincere efforts over the past three months to resolve the issue through traditional jirga mediation. His statement is on record that this is a personal land dispute between two parties and should not be given political colour,” ANP district president and former MPA Shakeel Khan Umarzai told a press conference here.

Shakeel Bashir revealed that their family had legally purchased 80 kanals of land from Nadia Gulzar, sister of PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar. The land had originally been given to Nadia as mehr by her former husband, Adam Khan.

He further alleged that despite the purchase, Adam Khan refused to hand over possession of the land. “When we went to claim our rightful property, Adam Khan and his associates opened fire, killing two of our close men,” Shakeel Bashir stated.

Responding to accusations made earlier by Adam Khan, who claimed that Aimal Wali Khan was politically interfering in the matter, Shakeel Bashir strongly refuted the allegations, calling them false and baseless. He emphasised that Aimal Wali had remained neutral and tried to mediate peace.

Shakeel Bashir also accused local PTI MNA Fazal Muhammad Khan and Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Mehsud of influencing the administration unfairly. “Despite being the victims, an FIR was registered against us before we could even file a complaint,” he claimed.Afzal Bashir added that a settlement had nearly been reached through jirga negotiations, but Adam Khan’s side later backed out of the agreement.