Protecting the Constitution: Achakzai pledges allegiance to Parliament’s supremacy

Says some elements are spreading negative propaganda against Pukhtuns

MINGORA: Chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai voiced intentions to work voluntarily towards preserving democracy and upholding the supremacy of the Constitution.

Speaking at his party’s workers convention at Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif on Sunday, he said Pakistan is a federation of different ethnic groups where Parliament is the supreme body. Pledging support for the Parliament, Achakzai said its supremacy has to be protected.

“Every decision must be taken in the Parliament and every institution in the country must obey its supremacy and not exceed its limits,” he said.



According to Achakzai, Pakistan already has a Constitution and there is no need for new experiments to impinge on its ambit.

Negative propaganda

Achakzai insisted some elements are spreading negative propaganda against Pukhtuns. The PkMAP leader billed Pukhtuns as “peaceful and responsible”. Achakzai insisted they have been falsely labelled as extremists and smugglers.

According to Achakzai, Pukhtuns live in a state of deprivation even though they have over 150,000 square miles of land which is rich with resources.

“Other forces have control over these resources,” he said. “PkMAP believes every province should have control on its own resources and will work towards ensuring this.”

“These people (spreading propaganda) must know we follow our norms, give respect to those who take shelter with us and never forgive those who want to capture our lands,” he said. Achakzai urged all Pukhtuns—irrespective of their political affiliations—to join hands against those spinning propaganda and stop them from making such derogatory remarks.



Achakzai went on to say efforts should be made to ensure peace in Afghanistan as it would simultaneously help create stability in Pakistan and in the region. He urged all of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries to accept its sovereignty.

Road to progress?

Earlier, PkMAP provincial president Mukhtiar Lala assured party workers that PkMAP would continue to work towards safeguarding democracy and parliamentary supremacy as it has done in the past.

He condemned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for ignoring its responsibilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Lala said, “It is difficult to accept the party’s claim of changing the country in 90 days when it could not bring any substantial change to the province over the last two years.”

He added, “The provincial government could not construct a road from Mingora to Kalam, how can they make a Naya Pakistan?”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2014.