SWABI: Awami National Party (ANP) central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has opposed reduction of six National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per the recently-held census, saying it will affect the share of the province in National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

He said that despite the fact they were followers of the non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan in all circumstances, they confronted terrorism that badly crippled life in the province.

The ANP leader was addressing a workers convention in Shewa on Tuesday night. He said that the country was in the grip of terrorism, especially KP suffered badly.

He said that more than 70,000 Pakhtuns were killed in the war against terrorism. “It was not their war. We fought wars of other countries, culminating in our suffering economically, politically, socially and culturally,” he added.

Mian Iftikhar says terrorism has crippled life in the province

Mr Hussain said that their warship places, funeral, hujras, markets, religious processions, social and cultural gatherings, schools, colleges and universities were not safe. He alleged that former ISI chief Gen Faiz Hameed had set free 40,000 terrorists and now people were facing the consequences. He added that flawed policies and wrong priorities caused great damage to the country.

“We have rendered numerous sacrifices for the country and are ready to do more. My only son was sacrificed for the motherland. Had I 10 more sons, I would have sacrificed them as well for the country,” he said.

The ANPleader said that his son was martyred by terrorists because a follower of non-violence and stood against terrorists. “I stood against terrorism yesterday and I stand against it today,” he added.

He said that reduction of six National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats as per the latest census will affect share of KP in National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“On the one hand we are dying from terrorism and on the other hand our share in our resources has been reduced. We do not accept such census and when we come to power, we will take account of it,” he said.

Mr Hussain said that the ANP leadership stood with Palestinians in the hour of need He said that atrocities continued unabated in Palestine but the whole world was silent.

He recalled that Bacha Khan told Palestinians not to sell their lands to the Jews in 1926. “ANP is against terrorism and Israel is the biggest terrorist on the earth,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, ANP provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak said that from Bacha Khan to Amil Wali Khan, they fought for the rights of Pakhtuns and the journey would continue despite difficulties and problems.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2023