KARACHI:
Awami National Party Chairman Aimal Wali Khan on Sunday called for a comprehensive and uncompromising policy to eliminate terrorism and extremism, rejecting any distinction between the “good” and “bad” Taliban, and urging the government to approach the issue with clarity and consistency.
Khan addressed a large public rally organized by ANP Sindh on Shahrah-e-Quaidain in Karachi to mark the 38th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, and the 20th death anniversary of late ANP leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
Khan said if the state had declared Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorists, then accountability should be applied uniformly, including former leaders, whom he accused of facilitating the entry of Taliban and terrorists into Pakistan.
He maintained that peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) could not be achieved through repeated operations, stressing that the Centre, provincial government and all stakeholders must jointly formulate a coordinated strategy to restore in this regard.
He said Pashtuns had no connection with the TTP or PTI, adding that they were a peace-loving people and their collective sufferings were often exploited through wrong policies and misplaced accusations.
He said public problems could only be resolved through an empowered local government system and by strengthening the 18th constitutional amendment, arguing that genuine delegation of power was essential to address long-standing failures in governance.
Referring to Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza Peace Council, the ANP leader demanded that Parliament be taken into confidence, insisting that foreign policy decisions of such magnitude required democratic consultations and transparency.
Addressing the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, he described it as a reflection of systemic degradation and corruption, criticizing the PPP and MQM for engaging in blame games instead of focusing on healing the wounds of the affected families.
He said the ANP was ready to work with all political forces for the development of Karachi, stressing that collective responsibility, rather than scoring points, was needed to address the city’s deep-rooted administrative and social challenges.
Paying tribute to the party activists, Senator Aimal Wali Khan said the ANP was not just a political party but a movement, committed to carrying forward the philosophy of peace and non-violence espoused by Bacha Khan and Wali Khan.
He said the Pashtuns of Karachi had clearly demonstrated their allegiance to peace and the ANP, reiterating that they did not support extremism and had no association with terrorist organizations or violent political narratives.
Highlighting the situation in Tirah, he said the Pashtuns there had been abandoned and were upset over the ongoing operations, accusing the Center of indifference and the KP government of behaving irresponsibly.
