ANP should not be compared with MQM: Shahi Syed

Says his party believes in Bacha Khan’s philosophy of non-violence.


Sohail Khattak June 25, 2012

KARACHI:


Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh chapter chief Senator Shahi Syed on Sunday said that ANP has no competition with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and it should not be compared with the latter.


“We are the followers of Ahmed Shah Abdali and our goal is to carry on the non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan, so we should not be compared with an outfit like MQM.”

He was speaking at a rally of ANP Sindh at the KPT ground Keamari. The rally was organised by ANP Keamari chapter activists who had recently joined the party after leaving the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Hundreds of Pashtuns carrying red flags came to Keamari to attend the rally. Shahi Syed’s convoy was welcomed with Pashtun music and flower petals, when it entered the ground.

Syed in his speech repeatedly stressed on the need of education for the Pashtuns of Karachi, “get your children educated, we don’t want to see our children carrying guns and suicide jackets.”

He reminded that Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan popularly known as Bacha Khan faced the British with the polity of non-violence, when others were holding swords and guns. “If anyone opts for gun, it will be violation of Bacha Khan’s philosophy.”

He appealed to the Pashtuns not to settle their tribal vendettas in Karachi. “We are already blamed that every Talib is a Pashtun. Don’t settle your family feuds in Karachi, as this city is vital for the economic survival and stability of the Pushtuns, so keep it peaceful.”

He lashed out at the Taliban for affecting 25 million people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. “Forty thousand of our women gave birth in camps due to you people (Taliban). You should be ashamed of yourself and your acts, which you are doing in the name of religion,” said Syed, when he switched to Pashto on the demand of the crowd.

Speaking about ANP and PPP coalition, Syed said that they will remain PPP’s partners, but the PPP should treat ANP like they treat MQM, “we have supported PPP unconditionally and we will do so in the future but they should think that if they can visit Nine Zero day and night, they should also visit Mardan House, which is a centre of Karachi’s Pashtuns.”

Published in The Express Tribune, 25th, 2012.

COMMENTS (5)

Navaid | 11 years ago | Reply

Here's the straight forward story. The only reason you are hearing the name ANP in Karachi, is because the US and NATO need a counter surveillance team in KP, and Karachi, to pinpoint Taliban outfits. It is part of a deal, that only those in the diplomatic channels are aware of. This is one reason why the MQM, which is realistically the only political force of Karachi, has kept it's muscle under wraps, and has let the ANP operate so openly in their backyard. Once the war in Afghanistan is over, so will the chapter of the ANP in KP, and in Karachi. On the other hand, the MQM, for it's shallow accomodation of the ANP in Karachi, will get it's ultimate prize, a Mohajir Province (which will eventually lead to an independant Mohajir Republic), comprising of Karachi-Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas. Expect mass migration of Pashtuns and Balochis in the near future. This is the deal, like it or not !

Imran | 11 years ago | Reply

@ASIF KHAN: LOL what big jalsa?

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