PkMAP’s Achakzai jumps on the march bandwagon

Reiterates support for JUI-F’s planned anti-govt show

QUETTA: Pashtunkhuwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai has termed ‘Azadi march’ a movement of all democratic forces, adding that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman has taken a bold step that should have commenced from Punjab.

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, former MNA Achakzai reiterated his support for Azadi march, saying that Pashtunkhuwa Mili Awami Party will fully participate in it and the anti-government protests. PkMAP workers and leaders would be in the first row with the JUI-F chief, he maintained.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has a modest personality, I don’t think it would be odd for the country if he resigns following the demands of the opposition parties,” Achakzai said while refuting the government’s allegations of sending armed groups in the march.

“We are not against the government but striving for the supremacy of parliament and the constitution,”Achakzai continued.

Lamenting over the no-confidence motion against Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, Achakzai said whatever happened in Senate brazenly ruined the sanctity of democracy.

Fazl vows to oust government with ‘Azadi march’

“Money was used recklessly for ousting coalition government in Balochistan and the notorious practice was repeated in securing Chairman Senate but we don’t know why NAB has turned its back over blatant corruption in Senate elections,” he wondered.

Replying to a question regarding who is backing Maulana’s Azadi march, PkMAP chairman said regardless of who is supporting the JUI-F chief, the latter would be welcomed because the opposition parties are striving to save Pakistan from further isolation.

Sharing views on the appalling health of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Mehmood Khan Achakzai urged the government to allow medical treatment in Pakistan or abroad for the PML-N leader.  He added that the most popular leader of Pakistan and his daughter were facing imprisonment for defying dictations of undemocratic powers.

“Federal Interior Minister’s statement lifted the lid from so-called corruption allegations framed on him and his daughter,” he said.

The PkMAP leader criticised the people of Punjab over their silence on whatever was happening to Mian Nawaz Sharif. He added that the step that Maulana Fazlur Rehman took, should have been taken by the people of Punjab instead because their leadership was facing the worst circumstances.

Talking about the recent video scandal in the University of Balochistan, Achakzai demanded fact-finding commission comprising well-respected men and women, to probe the harassment and blackmailing incidents.

“There are attempts being made to cover the worst video scandal that occurred in our varsity but Pashtunkhuwa Milli Awami Party demands inquiry in all girls’ colleges and universities from Lasbela to Chaman and Chaman to Musakhail,” Achakzai said while bemoaning the response of Baloch and Pushtoon students organisations’ over the scandal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2019.