Achakzai for parliament’s supremacy over state policies

MINGORA: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) head Mahmood Khan Achakzai has said that the Constitution is not just a simple document, but a social contract between the federation and federating units and citizens and the state.

"Under the constitution, an elected parliament should have supremacy over formulating policies of the federation," he said while addressing a public gathering in Khwazakhela in Swat district.

Achakzai warned that Pakistan was facing serious internal and external problems and the establishment alone cannot steer the country out of the prevailing crises without taking the people and parliament on board.

"Every institution should function within its constitutionally specified ambit and deviation by any institution from the constitutional path can push the country into a quagmire," the PMAP leader warned. "So far countless political workers have died and suffered just for violation of 'Section 144' but no dictator has been taken to task for the violation of the Constitution," he pointed out.

The PMAP chief said that without peace and stability in Afghanistan and cordial relations with India, any hope of peace and prosperity in the region, particularly in Pakistan, is a pipe-dream. "The success of CPEC or any other development and investment plan depends on the peace and stability of the region," Achakzai maintained.

Referring to the ongoing political mechanisation, Achakzai warned that so far science and technology have invented many things except a leader. He said a leader can only be produced by the people to represent them.

He condemned the terrorist attack on a church in Quetta on Sunday and expressed sympathies with the victims. He reiterated that PMAP condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasised that the menace cannot be defeated without the support of people.

He called it misleading and ironical to associate terrorism and extremism with the Pakhtuns. He proposed an international conference on the issue to determine the causes and factors of terrorism and extremism with historical references. While emphasising on interfaith and inter-culture harmony, he said that apart from religious, cultural and ethnic relations, humanity is a common bond among human beings and, therefore, no creed, culture and language should be discriminated against. Instead, he said it should be respected equally.

Achakzai maintained that inequality was not a divine rule, but was the outcome of exploitation by the usurpers and powerful. "PMAP believes in struggle for the political, economic and cultural rights of Pakhtuns as well as respecting the rights of other nationalities in the federation of Pakistan," he added.

On the hot issue of Fata reforms and merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Achakzai reiterated his stance that any decision regarding the future of Fata should be taken with the consent of the tribal people. He said that in the presence of international treaties and commitment regarding the status of Fata, any drastic change can open a Pandora's Box.

"Therefore, Fata reforms should be focused on the welfare of the people without changing its geographical status," he maintained. On the occasion, Dr Abdul Baseer joined PMAP along with his family members and friends. The gathering was also addressed by Senator Usman Kakar and the provincial leaders of PMAP.