PESHAWAR:The Awami National Party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter on Friday announced that it would hold a peaceful protest at the Chakdara interchange on July 5 against the proposed military operation and incidents of militancy in the province.

It formed a committee headed by its general secretary Shah Hussain Yousafzai to make arrangements for the rally.

The announcement about the Aman Pasun protest was made in a meeting chaired by ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain and attended by general secretary Shah Hussain Yousafzai, spokesman Arslan Khan, and other leaders,according to a statement.

The participants discussed the province’s security situation, the party’s affairs and its contacts with other political groups.

They expressed concern about the “rising incidents of militancy, deterioration of security situation, and announcement of a military offensive” in the province.

The meeting also demanded action on the banned outfits and militants from Punjab.

It also discussed the party’s contacts with other parties in the province and emphasised unity and coordination among all parties to manage the current situation.

Mr Hussain said the decision about the Operation Azm-i-Istehkam was made “unilaterally and in great haste.”

He said the people had misgivings about military operations and their outcomes.

“Such hasty decisions will further shatter people’s confidence and exacerbate the situation,” he said.

The ANP leader said it was imperative for authorities to take all stakeholders and parliament into confidence before making any decisions about the launch of another military offensive. He also criticised the government for “resettling more than 40,000 militants” in the country saying the move upset the people.

Mr Hussain demanded stern action against those responsible for that move.

“The government should detain all those 106 militants who were released during talks with the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan,” he said.

The ANP leader said had the National Action Plan been implemented in letter and spirit in the last decade, the current law and order situation would have not arisen.

He warned the situation was heading to the point of no return and if the government didn’t act, it would be too late.

Mr Hussain said the security apparatus should stop making a distinction between “good and bad” militants and should ensure effective implementation of all NAP points.

He said KP and its people had been facing serious issues for many years.

“Our people are bearing the brunt of rising prices and unemployment,” he said, complaining about the denial of rights to the province by the centre, especially non-payment of dues, and bad governance.

The ANP leader urged all political parties of the province, which are not part of the major alliances, to unite on a single platform to fight for the rights of people.

He said the ANP had established contacts with several other political parties and would soon chalk out a joint course of action.

Mr Hussain, however, said all political parties had their own ideologies but they could put up a joint struggle for the resolution of the province’s major issues.

He said that the ANP would continue playing a pivotal role in that respect.

The party formed a committee headed by Hussain to invite political parties to the July 5 rally.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024