No more talks before meeting Imran: Achakzai

No more talks before meeting Imran: Achakzai

QUETTA: Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman, National Assembly Opposition Leader and head of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai has said negotiations between the government and opposition cannot resolve Pakistan’s crisis without a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan. He was addressing a PkMAP gathering at Baz Muhammad Sha­heed Ground in Zhob on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the Oct 7, 1983, martyrs of democracy. Mr Achakzai said that if one side was consulting its leaders and stakeholders, the PTI and opposition had the right to meet the jailed ex-premier. “Until I meet Imran Khan, I will not be part of any negotiations,” he said. He said the PTI had placed its trust in him and he would strive to honour it. “Why is the government afraid of our meeting with Imran Khan?” he wondered. PkMAP chief welcomes Russian foreign minister’s statement on Afghanistan Mr Achakzai warned that imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in KP would have serious political consequences. “Impose governor’s rule if you wish; we will announce people’s rule and hold protests in every district,” he warned. He said the situation had reached a point where Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had no option but to move forward. He said powerful quarters had tried to break Imran Khan, but, by the grace of Allah, he had remained steadfast. “The time has now come for those who sought to break him to begin breaking themselves,” he said. Mr Achakzai urged all political forces to agree on at least one national agenda to establish a course of action for a prosperous future of Pakistan’s 250 million people. Recalling the Oct 7, 1983, protest against military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq, he said PkMAP workers had taken to the streets against martial law and the usurpation of the people’s right to govern themselves. Protesters were directly fired upon, he said. He miraculously survived, while four companions were martyred, dozens injured and hundreds arrested. “Today, we pay tribute to the sacrifices of all those martyrs,” he added. He said an enormous amount of Pashtun blood had been shed over nearly half a century, but powerful vested interests remained unsatisfied. The only “crime” of the Pashtuns, he said, was their love for their land. Mr Achakzai said Pashtuns must set aside mutual grievances, resolve disputes through jirgas and strengthen unity and solidarity. He said appointments to the posts of Chief Election Commis­s­i­o­ner and Election Commission members whose terms had expired sho­uld follow the procedure prescr­ibed by the Constitution and law. He said he was ready to meet the prime minister at any neutral, public venue. On the occasion, Mr Achakzai also demanded that judges, political leaders and workers who had opposed martial law and the Provisional Constitutional Orders be declared national heroes. Welcoming the Russian foreign minister’s statement on Afgha­ni­s­tan at the 18th meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations, he said powers that had intervened in Afghanistan, along with their allies, owed the country a debt. They were responsible, he said, for fulfilling their obligations towards Afghanistan’s stability, development and prosperity. Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026