PkMAP demands free cross-border movement

Warns of prolonged protests if concerns not addressed

QUETTA:

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai has said that the people of Chaman did not desire conflict but that they were willing to go to any lengths against the government policy of restricted cross border movement which he said would deprive the people of the region of their livelihoods.

He was addressing on Saturday the participants of a sit-in which has been going on for the last 50 days near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman.

Achakzai emphasized the peaceful nature of the ongoing protest, highlighting its legitimacy and the pressing demands of the participants. Expressing frustration over the lack of attention towards their genuine concerns, he noted the decision on the part of the federal government would have an adverse impact on the lives of thousands of local residents. He urged the government to revise its decision and make policies in consultation with the local tribesmen.

Read: Chaman border now ‘requires’ a valid visa

Achakzai also issued a stern warning that if the demands were not accepted within one week, his party would stage protest demonstrations outside deputy commissioners’ offices across the province.

He revealed plans to travel to Islamabad to engage with leaders of various political parties, including Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in a collaborative effort to find a resolution to the ongoing issues faced by his people. Achakzai stressed that they intended to seek peaceful solutions but that, if their voices went unheard, a more extensive protest was imminent.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2023.