BY:Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai
QUETTA—Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of Ayeen Tahafuz Pakistan, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, has strongly condemned the firing on unarmed civilians in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying that public issues cannot be resolved through force.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Achakzai said the problems of AJK should be resolved through dialogue with the local people. He claimed that efforts by Ayeen Tahafuz Pakistan and Maulana Fazlur Rehman to visit the area were not allowed.
Commenting on the law and order situation in Balochistan, he alleged that the government’s writ had collapsed in the province, claiming that lives, property and major highways were no longer secure.
He also appealed to those advocating freedom to ensure that poor Pashtuns and their vehicles were not targeted in their areas. Achakzai rejected what he described as the allocation of Pashtun land without local consent and opposed the exploitation of the region’s mineral resources. He further alleged that armed groups had been unleashed in different areas to intimidate people and create unrest.
Announcing a future course of action, Achakzai said a Pashtun Qaumi Jirga would be held in Quetta on August 29–31 to discuss the situation in southern Pashtunkhwa, with participation from Pashtun representatives from across the region.
The press conference was also attended by Pashtun Qaumi Jirga Convener Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai, along with central and provincial leaders of PkMAP and party workers.
Referring to Imran Khan, Achakzai said the PTI founder would complete three years in jail on August 5, adding that peaceful protests would be held across Pakistan on that occasion.
