Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali Khan called for a clear and strong policy to end terrorism and extremism. He rejected the idea of “good” and “bad” Taliban and urged the government to deal with the issue with clarity and consistency.
Aimal Wali Khan was speaking at a large public gathering organised by ANP Sindh on Shahrah-e-Quaidain in Karachi. The event was held to mark the 38th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) and the 20th death anniversary of senior ANP leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
He said that if the state has declared terrorists as Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan, then accountability must be applied equally. This should also include former rulers, whom he accused of helping the Taliban and terrorists enter Pakistan.
He said that peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot be achieved through repeated military operations. Instead, the federal government, the provincial government, and all other stakeholders must work together to make a joint and effective strategy.
Aimal Wali Khan said that Pashtuns have no link with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He added that Pashtuns are a peace-loving people, but their suffering has often been used and blamed due to wrong policies and false accusations.
He said that public problems can only be solved through a strong local government system and by fully implementing the 18th Constitutional Amendment. According to him, real transfer of power to the local level is necessary to fix long-standing governance issues.
Referring to Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza Board of Peace, he demanded that parliament should be taken into confidence, saying that such important foreign policy decisions require democratic discussion and transparency.
Talking about the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, he said it showed systemic failure and corruption. He criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for blaming each other instead of helping the affected families.
He said the ANP is ready to work with all political parties for the development of Karachi, stressing that collective responsibility, not political point-scoring, is needed to solve the city’s deep administrative and social problems.
Paying tribute to party workers, Senator Aimal Wali Khan said the ANP is not just a political party but a movement. He promised to continue the message of peace and non-violence of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan.
He said Pashtuns living in Karachi have clearly shown their support for peace and the ANP, and that they do not support extremism or have any link with terrorist groups or violent political ideas.
Speaking about the situation in Tirah, he said the Pashtuns there feel abandoned and are suffering due to ongoing operations. He accused the federal government of being indifferent and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of acting irresponsibly.
