SWABI: People from different walks of life thronged the venue of a mammoth peace march here on Thursday and pledged to stand united for fighting the fresh wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The leaders of Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), National Democratic Movement (NDM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) addressed the peace march.

They alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) ruled the province for 10 years but it failed to counter the new wave of terrorism. They said that PTI leaders were responsible for increasing incidents of terrorism in the province.

The participants of the march chanted slogans of “we want peace” and “terrorism is unacceptable”. Such peace marches were already held in Swat, South Waziristan and Bajaur.

People poured in from different areas to reach Karnal Sher Khan Chowk and participate in the march. They were holding white flags and placards inscribed with different slogans. No political party was allowed to display its flag at the march.

Speakers blame PTI for current law and order situation in province

Swabi-Jehangira, Swabi-Mardan, Swabi-Topi and Swabi-Maneri roads remained closed to traffic for more than five hours. Political activists, social workers, traders and youth participated in the march in a large number and said that peace should be maintained at all costs as it was prerequisite for development and progress.

ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak, PPP provincial vice-president Liaquat Shabab, PTM head Manzoor Pashteen, JUI-F central vice-president Maulana Fazal Ali, JI’s Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, NDM provincial president Bushra Gohar and PML-N district general secretary Babar Saleem addressed the march.

They said that they were ready to play leading role in the present testing times. They said that PTI ruled the province for 10 years but its leaders were passing the buck to the federal government.

Manzoor said that Pakhtuns were targeted under a well-planned strategy to keep them backward. He said that there was lawlessness in the country as parliament had little authority. He added that Pakhtuns were not terrorists and they would fight together for peace.

Sardar Babak said that they believed in non-violence philosophy of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and inked peace agreements with militants but they violated the accords and started increasing their influence through brutal tactics.

He said that they remained steadfast against terrorism and tendered sacrifices. He said that their leaders and workers were targeted by terrorists.

Maulana Fazal Ali said that PTI during its rule failed miserably on all fronts. “PTI has destroyed all the institutions. It is responsible for economic instability and worsening law and order,” he added.

Senator Mushtaq said that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure protection of life and property of the people. “We call the killing of Pakhtuns state terrorism. He also flayed imprisonment of MNA Ali Wazir.

Liaquat Shabab also criticised PTI for the present situation in the province. He said that PTI failed to protect people from terrorism. “The people (militants) against whom we are fighting today are those, who kill our children in schools and target police and army. Benazir Bhutto, Bashir Bailour and other people, who sacrificed their lives, were fighting for peace,” he added.

Bushra Gohar said that the people of Waziristan taught them to fight for peace. She said that Pakhtuns were united and ready to render sacrifices for peace. “Our peace is linked with the policies of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. We are not ready to allow anyone to spill our blood anymore,” she added.

Special Fateha was offered for senior lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi, the former president of Supreme Court Bar Association, who was assassinated in Peshawar three days ago.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023