MAHMOOD Achakzai has recently made a statement just to play the Pashtun card. According to him, “if Afghans are harassed in other parts of Pakistan, they should come here to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where no one can ask them for refugee cards because it also belongs to them.”

While addressing the National Assembly during Imran Khan’s sit-in in Islamabad, Achakzai said he would protect the Constitution and he was pro-Pakistan. This statement now completely exposes him.

His statement has been taken seriously by stakeholders and the people of Pakistan. This is a case of treason and every patriotic Pakistani wants Mr Achakzai to be tried.

If an ex-army chief and the president of Pakistan can face courts in a treason case then why not this man whose track record has been blemished with countless anti-Pakistan moves?

If he claims to be a nationalist then why did he opt against playing a positive role during the CPEC issue, letting KP alone to resolve the matter?

Rohail Mandokhel

Zhob

(2)

THIS is apropos Mahmood Achakzai’s statement that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belongs to Afghans (June 30). This implies that the entire KP territory belongs to Afghanistan.

There couldn’t be a more sinister and damaging statement by a senior politician. I thought that Mr Achakzai was decently educated and has read history. He has proved otherwise.

Just to refresh history, KP had been part of ancient India. When the British ruled India, they sent an expedition to Afghanistan to subdue the Afghans but were defeated.

When the Muslims of the subcontinent were struggling for the creation of a separate homeland, a referendum was held in KP, and the people of KP voted for Pakistan. If KP belonged to Afghans, how come people voted for Pakistan?

It is simple logic that KP historically belonged to South Asia and not Afghanistan. Also, the Durand Line is as historical as MacMohan Line. Nobody can make it disputed. Mr Achakzai is advised to brush up his history and avoid making unpatriotic statements.

Safir Siddiqui

South Dakota, USA

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2016