ANP's Aimal calls for elimination of terror

Awami National Party President Aimal Wali Khan on Sunday called for a comprehensive and uncompromising policy to eliminate terrorism and extremism, rejecting any distinction between 'good' and 'bad' Taliban, and urging the government to address the issue with clarity and consistency.

Khan addressed a large public gathering organised by the 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 that if the state had declared terrorists as Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan, then accountability should be applied uniformly, including the former rulers, whom he accused of facilitating the Taliban and terrorists' entry into Pakistan.

He maintained that peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) could not be achieved through repeated operations, stressing that the Centre, the 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 the PTI, adding that they were a peace-loving people, and that their collective suffering was often exploited through flawed policies and misplaced accusations.

He said public issues could only be resolved through an empowered local government system and by strengthening the 18th Constitutional Amendment, arguing that genuine devolution of power was essential for addressing longstanding governance failures.

Referring to Pakistan's participation in the Gaza Board of Peace, the ANP leader demanded that parliament be taken into confidence, insisting that foreign policy decisions of such magnitude required democratic consultation and transparency.

Touching on the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, he described it as a reflection of systemic decay and corruption, criticising the PPP and the MQM for indulging in blame games instead of focusing on healing wounds of affected families.

He said the ANP was ready to work with all political forces for Karachi's development, emphasising that collective responsibility, rather than point-scoring, was required to address the city's deep-rooted administrative and social challenges.

Paying tribute to party workers, Senator Aimal Wali Khan said the ANP was not merely a political party but a movement, vowing to carry forward the philosophy of peace and non-violence espoused by Bacha Khan and Wali Khan.

He said Pashtuns in Karachi had clearly demonstrated their allegiance to peace and the ANP, reiterating that they neither supported extremism nor had any association with terrorist organisations or violent political narratives.

Highlighting the situation in Tirah, he said Pashtuns there had been abandoned and were distressed by ongoing operations, accusing the Centre of indifference and the K-P government of behaving irresponsibly.