Charsadda (Ghag Report):
Aimal Wali Khan, the central president of the Awami National Party (ANP), held an important press conference at Wali Bagh where he sharply criticized the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its handling of political issues. Khan expressed concerns over the exploitation of young people by some individuals in the pursuit of power, accusing them of playing with the lives of the youth in an open and reckless manner.
Khan, in his address, extended ANP’s solidarity with the families of martyrs within PTI, emphasizing that the pain and suffering of those who have lost their loved ones is shared by the party. He condemned the manipulation of young minds, noting that many are lured into dangerous situations with promises of martyrdom, only to be abandoned when faced with the reality of sacrifice.
“These young people are brainwashed to the point where they are being led to stand before the state, while the leaders who have instigated them run away in the face of responsibility,” Khan said. He also criticized the PTI leadership, accusing them of not wanting Imran Khan to be released from jail, as they continue to create political dramas to push the former prime minister deeper into isolation.
Khan further questioned the loyalty and honor of PTI leaders, particularly when it comes to the treatment of Pashtuns, accusing them of using the community as pawns in political games. “If PTI leaders are so honorable, why don’t they bring some people from Punjab? Why must only Pashtuns bear the brunt of the violence?” Khan remarked, pointing out that Pashtuns have suffered the most, both in terms of physical violence and political neglect.
He also drew attention to the ongoing violence in Kurram District, where sectarian clashes have forced entire villages to flee, leaving people homeless and vulnerable. Despite the claims of ceasefire, Khan noted that the situation in Kurram remains dire, with no respite for the affected communities. “Our people are living under the open sky, and yet the provincial leadership seems indifferent to the suffering of its own people,” he added.
Khan strongly criticized the federal government and military establishment for playing a role in empowering PTI, which has led to the marginalization of Pashtuns in national politics. He called for justice for the workers and families who have suffered as a result of PTI’s political maneuvers.
Addressing the current state of affairs, Khan urged the provincial government to do more for the Pashtun community, demanding that the provincial leadership provide financial compensation to the families of PTI’s martyrs, especially those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who have been left with no support. He concluded with a plea to the federal government and military establishment to reconsider their approach to the region, stating, “Pashtuns are already wounded, and we cannot bear to be ignored any longer.”