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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Sign the Petition "Kick the Killer out of UK "

Some citizens have started this online petition to convince the British Prime Minister that MQM is a terrorist organization and its Chief Iltaf Hussain Karachi Killer should be sent out of the UK.
Please sign this petition .............
http://www.petitiononline.com/altaf/petition.html

Monday, June 11, 2007

Don’t be so cheap

Don’t be so cheap
Mohammed Ayub Khan
The Frontier Post.
Black Saturday or 12/5 was the day, when the MQM was thoroughly exposed as a terrorist outfit and the whole world saw, seated in their comfortable living rooms, through electronic media the brutalities they committed against the innocent Pushtoon and other armless protestors on the streets of the Karachi. Since the day the streets of Karachi witnessed this mayhem, the MQM perhaps for the first time in its short terrorist life saw the brunt of the fire. The whole country cried against their brutalities, however, their heads never hanged in shame and neither they came up to seek apology for their wrong doings. Rather they went back to the usual gimmicks and lengthy telephonic speeches to shift these horrendous crimes in some else account. Initially MQM was not prepared to see this loud outrage and they took this for granted to play again with the lives of the besieged Karachities once more, but the later events dawn upon them that the days for their criminal existence are close to end. Altaf Hussain did his best to move around the subsequent events and tell the bottomless stories about the involvement of opposition parties and at some point the traditional invisible hands to disrupt the peace in the biggest Pakistani metropolitan city; however, no one bought his unfaithful stories, neither his desperately organized rallies could help to bill them out of this mess. Never before they saw such horrible days, since the times they started calling the shots in Karachi and Hyderabad and enjoyed the all powerful patronage of our mighty hands, and perhaps because of this unforeseen nakedness publicly they fall down to the depth ignominy and shame. MQM has every right to do politics in this country, provided their cadres and leader abide by the law of the land. It means they have to hear the dissent views patiently, allow the political opponents to balance their power and political agenda and above all stop killing and maiming the innocent masses through their armed thugs. Running land mafia and extortion of money as protection fee from the industrialists and traders should have replaced the voluntarily collection of small monthly fee from its members. Unfortunately during the last tow decades of its life MQM totally failed to adopt a peaceful and democratic posture and could have allowed the growth of pluralistic democratic culture in the two big city of Karachi and Hyderabad in particular and the rest of the Sindh in general. So far MQM has been in the news because of various reasons. They fought pitch battles against the armed forces during the operation against terrorists (remember Maj. Kaleem and his colleagues of 1991), gunny bag dead bodies here and there, no go areas and the erection of iron entrance, intimidating the electronic and print media (all the newspapers published from Karachi must have a prominent space for their press releases) blackmailing the coalition partners (Nawaz Sharif Raqam Barao), extortions, torture and killing of opponents (Nawaz Sharif admitted recently that MQM thugs killed Hakim Mohammad Saeed), outbursts even against the state of Pakistan on their routine visits to India, killing Pushtoon, Punjabi, Baloch and Sindhis and looting their properties, and employing fake PhD holders to deliver theological lectures on electronic media etc. Today they are in the eye of the storm because of different reasons. Judicial activism in Pakistan made it possible to challenge this monster in the face. This time they were not allowed to escape the justice and the Sindh High Court took a Suo Muto action about the May 12th killings and has asked the Sindh Government to file their response in connection with this horrific event. The Sindh Chief Minister also faced the music and his legal advisors found it hard to defend him in the court about his calling for clipping the Judiciary powers. A group of around 45 lawyers, including Syed Iqbal Kazmi also filed FIRs against the Sindh government, Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor and other MQM leaders for their alleged involvement in this gory drama. Protest demonstrations held by the political parties along with various associations of doctors, students, artists, women activities, civil society organization stuck the last nail on the coffin of MQM and their office bearers other than Hyderabad and Karachi started tendering their resignations. Imran Khan also jumped into the arena and announced to sue this guy playing with the lives of innocent citizen and bring him to justice for his criminal past. All these events terrified these pseudo revolutionaries to the core and started a dirty game of name calling. Within no time the whole city of Karachi, early in the morning saw a variety of possible slurs and graffiti on the walls against Imran Khan and even did not spare his personal life. His past relations with Ms. White and the birth of his unlawful daughter Ms. Tyrian, divorcing his wife and even asked the government to apply clause # 62 and 63. Pamphlets and handbills were printed overnight and displayed at every corner and crossing of the city and flashes in front of the cameras during their demonstrations. This was the meanest of the crimes, Altaf Hussain committed against his opponents. Not a true and honorable person would fell to that depth of disgrace, rather would fight back as a man on the same pitch and rules. To some the MQM has seen the writing on the walls and they were disparate to forestall the forthcoming but imminent judicial probe in Pakistan and UK against them which can expose their crimes and dirty personal lives they spent in the Abbassi Shaheed Hospital. Shamelessly after going through such deep to the neck dirt, Altaf Hussain offered Imran Khan to settle their difference outside of the courts which the earlier rejected. Equipped with the formidable evidences provided by Nasirullah Khan Babar, the former Interior Minister, Imran Khan has caught the bull from the horn now and it seems that he is going to bring him down soon. Upon his arrival in London to file a legal suite against the MQM supremo, a large gathering greeted him. He not only prepared his legal suite against him but also went to 10 Downing Street along with PML-N leaders to file petitions at the Prime Minister office against Altaf Hussain terrorist activities. According to the press reports it was a large gathering which was also addressed by local Pakistani community leaders and politicians. Sensing his doom day knocking at the door, the MQM supremo again fell into dirt of pity personal attacks, and requested Sarfraz Nawaz a former team mate to meet him in London and share with him the past personal weaknesses of cricket star Imran Khan, which can be used against him for damaging his political standing. All these ventures clearly indicate that this guy has no guts, neither any rule to abide by. While condemning the violence on 12th May in Karachi, a spokesperson and first secretary (political) in UK's High Commission, Islamabad Ms. Laura Davies has said that everyone in Britain must abide by the British law and that Altaf Hussain is not an exception, She assured the Journalists the other day that any allegation against him which are supported by reliable evidence will be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the UK law The print media including the widely circulated papers the Daily Telegraph as well as The Guardian are regularly publishing every bit of information about MQM and its leaders these days in UK. Even some have undertaken investigations to find out how come a British citizen can run a political party, while sitting (Edgware High Street in north London) inside the territorial boundary of their country and one such report tried to find a connection between the MQM and South African Crime Network. Some of the reports and news analysis are also building up pressure over the public opinion and government to initiate legal proceedings against Altaf Hussain and his other exiled colleagues. Speaking to seminar organized by Pakistani student from the University of Oxford (or May 12 Group), a renowned British journalist and writer Ms. Victoria Schofield said that the British government should look concerns of Pakistani civil society about MQM chief Altaf Hussain. Majority of the speakers held the MQM responsible for the May 12th Killing in Karachi and asked to extradite Altaf Hussain to face terrorism charges in their countries of origin. They held the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) responsible for the Karachi killings, and drew comparisons between the cases of Altaf Hussain and the radical Muslims being extradited to face terrorism charges in the countries of their origin. As usual Altaf Hussain, whiling delivering his speech from London luxurious abode, to his student's wing in Karachi, All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization (APMSO) warned the government about conspiracies, hatched against MQM. Do we need to remind him that who the government are? Is it not the MQM themselves and no one else who rule the Sindh and enjoy junior partnership in the Federal setup? Whom is he calling conspirators and how come he is declaring himself irreplaceable or inseparable from MQM or vice versa (to borrow his own words). Is this a new cult? And Altaf Hussain a clairvoyant Telephonic connection between London seat of MQM and its thugs on the streets of Karachi need to be severed as soon as possible. As long as this communication is there, no one knows how many more would fall due to firry speeches of Altaf Hussain and prompt implementation by his armed terrorists. The UK government should also take into consideration the misuse of electronic media and include this in the list of possible evidences against the criminals. Lawangin@gmail.com To see the live brutalities of MQM click on the following given links AAJ TV In depth Analysis , AAJ TV In depth Analysis & AAJ TV In depth Analysis 3

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Socio-educational reform movements in NWFP A case study of Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina - II



Socio-educational reform movements in NWFP A case study of Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina - II
Dr Abdul Rauf


Khuda’i Kidmatgars and Azad High School The faction led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan laid more stress on the political expediency and thus the reform movement which was launched to gradually educate and socially reform the Pakhtun community came to be riddled with agitational and revolutionary politics. While the results of the latter might have taken some time to fully reveal themselves, the outcome of the former soon gripped the entire movement. During the same period, several revolutionary youth organizations like Naujawanan-i-Bharat Sabha made their appearance and in some cases, even British officials were also physically attacked, killed and wounded. In NWFP, the need for the formation of an organization which could use the potential of the Pakhtun youths, particularly that of the rural areas, who constituted the majority population of the province, was also felt. A conference for this purpose was held on September 1, 1929 which was presided over by Khushal Khan of Bariqab and after extensive deliberations Da Zalmo Jirga, a Youth League, was formed. Abdul Akbar Khan and Mian Ahmad Shah were appointed its president and general secretary, respectively. The organization ostensibly adopted the creed of non-violence. Its banner displayed a “hammer and sickle”, on the communist pattern. This pattern of the flag was, however, soon discarded in order to dispel the possibility of the wrong impression that the Youth League was a Russia-inspired body. For the establishment of its units in the whole province, the Jirga visited Tal, Hangu, Bannu and D.I. Khan, highlighted the poor condition of the community and emphasized the need for an organization to reform the society. In January 1930, a meeting was held in Utmanzai. To carry out the practicable programme of the reformation of society in the villages a volunteers corps was needed. Several people presented themselves for the task. These volunteers were named the Khuda’i Khidmatgars (the Servants of God), and they worked under the supervision of the Youth League. These volunteers were bound by an oath of discipline to follow and enforce the organization’s policy as determined by the high command. The oath was as follows: I am a Khuda’i Khidmatgar and as God needs no service, but serving his creation is serving Him, I promise to serve humanity in the name of God. I promise to refrain from violence and from taking revenge. I promise to forgive those who oppress me or treat me with cruelty. I promise to refrain from taking part in feuds and quarrels and from creating enmity. I promise to treat every Pathan as my brother and friend. 1 promise to refrain from antisocial customs and practices. I promise to live a simple life, to practice virtue and to refrain from evil. I promise to practise good manners and good behaviour and not to lead a life of idleness. I promise to devote at least two hours a day to social work. The members of the organization considered it a religious movement launched for the advancement of religion and that they were serving religion by being members of this organization. According to common practice in those days, it was thought necessary that these volunteers should have a separate uniform. As the white colour was not suitable for manual work it was decided that all volunteers would dye their shirts, trousers and turbans in chocolate colour which was misrepresented as red in the British official records and the organization was quickly dubbed as “the Red Shirts”. The British administration was quick to connect it with the “Red Menace”, which had already occupied British minds as the Red Communists’ movement in Russia. Sarfaraz Khan was appointed the president and Rab Nawaz as Salar (commander) of the organization. These volunteers were asked to drill in military style. They occasionally accompanied, Abdul Ghaffar Khan in uniform to inspire the people to enlist themselves in the organization. By the end of March 1930 the number of volunteers enrolled in the Charsaddah sub-division was reported to be between 2,000 and 2,500. In the beginning of 1930s the activities of the leaders of the Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina came to be dominated by their involvement in the Khuda’i Khidmatgar movement and thus the Anjuman eventually came to be transformed into the Red Shirt movement. Throughout April 1930 the process of touring and enlisting the volunteers continued. During these meetings Pushto poetry was recited which depicted the glories of the country before the arrival of the British, who brought misery and disunity. The poetry of Khan Mir Hilali, Mahmud Makhfi, Abdul Khaliq Khaleeq, Abdul Akbar Khan Akbar, Tursam, Fazl-i-Wahid Mulla, Amir Nawaz Jalya, Gul Ahmad and Khadim Muhammad Akbar aroused the national feelings of the people very much. On April 23, Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his colleagues Abdul Akbar Khan, Hajji Shah Nawaz, Mian Ahmad Shah and Sarfaraz Khan were arrested in Nahaqi near Peshawar under section 40 F.C.R. and sent to jail. All refused to furnish a bond for their release except Hajji Shah Nawaz, who on his release was treated by his community with such contempt that he committed suicide. After the arrest of the leaders, a meeting of the Youth League was held on April 27, 1930, in which Khushal Khan of Bariqab and Qaim Shah were elected president and secretary of the League, respectively. An intensive campaign followed the arrest of the aforementioned leaders and the simultaneous incident that occurred in Peshawar city on April 23, in which several people were killed, resulted in the rapid spread of disaffection throughout Peshawar district and the adjacent areas. Every effort was made to expand the organization of the Youth League and to increase the number of its volunteers. Laws of the British Government were defied by holding public meetings and payment of revenue was withheld to inflict financial losses on the government. In some instances telegraph wires were also cut down. The villagers were instructed to abstain from reporting cases to the police and instead refer them to the Jirgas of the Youth League. The accused were brought before Jirgas for trial and if found guilty punishments were awarded to them according to the laws of the Shari‘ah. Sometimes the criminals were rewarded for surrendering themselves for punishment under the Shari‘ah. Consequently, the Government declared the Youth League an unlawful association on May 13, 1930. The leaders of the organization, however, continued their activities by working in secret and avoiding any overt act that would force the authorities to take action against them and thus effectively remove them from the political arena. Thus they succeeded in keeping alive the organization. The Khuda’i Khidmatgars affiliated themselves with the Indian National Congress in August 1931, after taking assurances of maintaining its separate identity by retaining their constitution, rules and programme and the distinctive name of their party. However, the common people henceforth looked at it as an offshoot of the Indian National Congress. Visit of the Indian Leaders to the Azad School The efforts of the school were appreciated by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan in 1927 but other Muslim leaders neither appreciated nor visited the Azad School. It was the Indian Congress leaders Nehru and Gandhi, who not only visited the institution but also assured it of their supports. In 1938, Mr. Nehru visited the Azad School. According to Jehanzeb Niyaz, a student of the school at that time, Mr. Nehru along with Bacha Khan was welcomed by the students at the corner of the road decorated with flags etc. The students were allowed to chant only three slogans, Hindustan Azad (freedom to India), Fakhr-i-Afghan Zindabad (Long live the Pride of the Afghans, a title given to Bacha Khan by the people), and Allah-o-Akbar (God is Great). After the guests were seated on the stage, a school teacher, Fazl Karim, recited his Urdu poem in which he described the pathetic conditions of the school building, welcomed Nehru, wished independence for the country and prayed for Nehru to become the first prime minister of India. Nehru in his speech discussed the Indian situation and eulogized the people for their struggle for the independence of their country. Bacha Khan also spoke on the occasion. The visit of Mr. Nehru was followed by Gandhi’s visit from May 1 to 8, 1938 to the province. He also visited the School along with Bacha Khan. After getting a warm welcome from the students and teachers, Gandhi spoke appreciatively of the efforts of Bacha Khan for training the youth of the nation. He said he expected this generation to excel in each and every field of life. He donated Rs.500 from his ashram to the students. A part of this sum was allocated for scholarships while the rest of it was used to entertain the students with sweets. According to Jehanzeb Niyaz, such visits boosted the morale of the youth and created self-confidence among them. It is noteworthy that Pakhtuns attached great importance to the people who visited them in their homes and usually did not turn down their requests. Conclusion The formation of the Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina was one of the responses of the Pakhtuns to the local, national and international socio-economic and political conditions. No doubt, the efforts started in the beginning of the century were the extension of the thought of Shah Waliullah as reflected in the ideas of the ulema of Deoband. However, a local touch was given to these efforts in the shape of Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina keeping in view the realities of the area. Activities relating to the spread of education and cleansing of society of unwanted social evils demanded an apolitical leadership. In fact, restraint from politics is one of the prerequisite for all work of social uplift of a society. In the early days of the Anjuman, the leadership successfully carried forward its objective of educating the most uneducated community of the subcontinent. In the words of Jehanzeb Niyaz, “Bacha Khan’s movement was not very much political. A large part of it was reformative, that is why this movement was named lslahul Afaghina.” Gradually, however, the Anjuman lost its apolitical identity and became a politically inspired movement, which proved a death knell for its existence. The Anjuman did not succeed in achieving its objective of the development of an indigenous educational system parallel to the British system of education. The skilled and trained personnel needed for such a task could never be gathered and consequently, despite its initial successes, the Anjuman-i-Islahul Afaghina could not reach anywhere near the achievements of Aligarh, Deoband and Nadwa as far as establishing its distinction in the domain of higher education was concerned. Even the very limited number of visionary leaders like Nasrullah Jan, Ahmad Shah, Makhfi and others were eventually dominated by those who attracted more to the political expediencies of the time. Nevertheless, the Anjuman provided a unique opportunity to the Pakhtuns of knowing how to achieve an objective through collective efforts. This organizational expertise was later on used for political mobilization also. People became active in the freedom movement led by Bacha Khan and otherwise also. All those people who supported the struggle for Pakistan were influenced directly or indirectly by the political consciousness created by the independent schools established by the Anjuman. The post-independence politics in Pakistan showed little independent decisions by the voters; however, the Pakhtuns as an ethnic group showed more maturity and independence in taking their decisions in the elections. The people of the province proved politically more aware than their compatriots in other parts of Pakistan. In elections little blame of rigging has ever been reported from NWFP as compared to other areas of Pakistan. This difference in political thinking in a more democratic way is the direct outcome of the awareness started in 1920s in this area through the socio-educational reformative movement of the Anjuman. Teachers employed in the schools run by the Anjuman were mainly those who left their studies in different colleges during Khilafat movement. They taught in these schools on nominal salaries or even without pay. They were not well trained. No doubt, these young teachers served well but for how long could they have engaged in these schools with negligible or no remuneration. On the other hand, the financial constraints of the Anjuman did not allow it to hire highly qualified and trained teachers. In the later stage, semi-skilled teachers in the schools hardly attracted good students. The donations and sponsorship of the Anjuman was badly affected after some of the leaders left the Anjuman. For example, Abbas Khan was a regular donor of Rs.500 per annum but he left the Anjuman after differences with Abdul Ghaffar Khan and stopped his financial assistance. The Anjuman was ostensibly apolitical and no doubt it was successful in achieving its objectives to some extent. But the plea of the leaders particularly Abdul Ghaffar Khan that the British rule was the cause of all miseries of the Pakhtuns was a simple explanation to a very complex social phenomenon. Such syllogisms did provide direction to the energies of people to strive for independence from the British, but as this hypothesis was not correct the Pakhtun society even after the departure of the British still continued to be afflicted with the same evils as it suffered during the British rule. The reformation of a society calls for a far more serious attention than the Anjuman’s leadership was prepared to quit it. The Anjuman with the passage of time tilted to Pakhtun ethnocentrism and nationalism. The interaction of some of its leaders particularly Abdul Ghaffar Khan with Indian National Congress diverted the Anjuman from the task of social and educational reformation to political mobilization against the British in coalition with the Congress. This development caused a rift among the top leadership of the Anjuman. In the late 1920s Indian political scene was dominated by agitational politics. The Shuddi and Sanghtan movements, Sarda Act, Rajpal Case, Cripps Mission, Nehru Report and reaction of Muslims thereto, Jinnah’s 14 Points, the British reluctance to extend reforms to NWFP, Indian National Congress’ declaration of independence in its Lahore Session and the subsequent civil disobedience movements of Congress all affected the minds and actions of the leaders of the Anjuman. The constantly inculcated longing for freedom since 1921 among the students of the schools and others now found a suitable occasion in rising against the British. The involvement of some of the leaders of Anjuman in politics thus stopped the growth and development of the Anjuman, particularly in the field of education and thus, set the Anjuman on a downward slide and finally after the establishment of Frontier Youth League and Khuda’i Khidmatgar Party in 1930, all its activities came to a stand still. The Khuda’i Khidmatgar movement which was finally affiliated with the Indian National Congress in 1930 was, in a way erected on the debris of the Anjuman. According to Prof. Jahanzeb Niyaz, one of the very famous students of the Azad School, when Dr. Khan Sahib ministry was formed, he issued the orders of the merger of the school into the local government school. Consequently, on one Friday, all the students in white clean uniform came to school, filed up in rows on the basis of seniority and started moving. First of all, the students heralded the Congress flag and another student raised portrait of Bacha Khan and entered in a government school in Utmanzai and hoisted the flag on the school and hang up the portrait of Bacha Khan in the office of the headmaster. And we happily sat on the desks with other students. The growth of the Anjuman’s school system stopped when Bacha Khan instead of sticking strictly to social and educational activities involved himself in politics. The wrath of the British Empire over the politics of Bacha Khan cast its reflection on the school system, which he had started, and the politics of his brother Dr. Khan Sahib ended the school system, which was thought to be producing anti-government students. In the beginning of this century Hashtnagar became a centre of social, educational and political activities and at the end of the century it was considered to be the hub of political change at least in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

The frontier Post.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

La ba yaw kigu gani wrakigu





QUETTA: The top Pakhtun leaders in a surprise move showed unprecedented unity against brutality and massacre of their masses and annouced a joint struggle by forging an alliance between Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) in Quetta on Monday. ANP president Asfandyar Wali showed up along with PkMAP president Mehmood Khan Achakzai in their party convention held in Sadiq Shaheed Ground. To see Asfandyar Wali in a such a huge rally was not only the wish of the Pakhtun nation but also the need of the hour as some political leaders called it. Mehmood Khan Achakzai offered the ANP president, "take a move and I will back you up in your struggle for the rights of Pakhtun as this is not the matter of being young or old". He praised Asfandyar Wali for his struggle and showed full confidence in him. While appreciating Mehmood Khan Achakzai words for him, Asfandyar promised that he will do any thing which will bring peace and harmony among Pakhtun masses. The ANP leader told the gathering that the time has come that we should removed all differences among us and unite for protecting our dignity and respect. Asfandyar Wali Khan in front of thousands of people offered Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party an alliance between the two parties which was ratified by more than 50,000 people present in the occasion by standing amid warm applause. Replying to the ANP president offer, Chairman Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai not only accepted the offer but also said that his party will accept all the terms and conditions set by ANP for the proposed alliance. It is to be noted here that it is the first time in the history of PkMAP that central president of ANP participated in the party convention of PkMAP. Earlier, Central President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan arrived in Quetta and instead of staying at the residence of any ANP leader reached at the residence of PkMAP leader Senator Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai. Both the leaders discussed in length the proposed party alliance between the two nationalist forces. The political circles are giving importance to this meeting and forecast that it could prove an important milestone in the alliance between these two parties. Meanwhile, addressing thousands of political workers at PkMAP, he said that the Pakhtuns of Afghanistan, Tribal areas, Balochistan and Karachi are fighting for their survival. "The anti-Pakhtun forces are bent upon destroying the very existence of Pakhtuns. The May 12 Karachi killings of Pakhtuns is the real testimony to this fact that the very survival of Pakhtuns as a nation is at stake", he added. He said the purpose of his presence in the convention of PkMAP is to give a clear signal that ANP wants unity among all Pakhtuns. "If today we couldn’t be able to get united than the future generations of Pakhtuns would never forgive us", he maintained. He said that the alliance between ANP and PkMAP is the cry of the time as both parties are the true representatives of millions of Pakhtuns wherever they live. He said that the alliance and unity between Pakhtuns is a matter of life and death and our nation and history demand from us that we close our ranks and emerge as unified political force. Around 50,000 people rose at the occasion and extended stunning applause to the Central President of Awami National Party, Asfandyar Wali Khan. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of PkMAP Mehmood Khan Achakzai said he has great respect for the family of Asfandyar Wali Khan as they rendered unmatched sacrifices for the welfare of Pakhtuns for so many decades. He said that there is a great level of understanding existing between the two parties and his party has always tried to create better relations with the leadership of ANP. He further said that the political importance of such political alliance couldn't be downplayed as it would have a very positive and long lasting repercussions for the Pakhtuns nation and PkMAP will try its level best to accommodate all the terms and conditions of ANP. He promised to thousands of party workers that they would hear a very pleasant news in coming days. The convention was also addressed by Nawab Jogezai, Abdur Rahim Mandukhel, Mukhtiar Yousafzai and office bearers of Pashtun Action Committee Karachi. At the end of party convention an important meeting was held between Asfandyar Wali Khan and Mehmood Khan Achakzai at the residence of Nawab Ayaz Khan in which the pros and cons of such political alliance were discussed. - The Frontier Post, June 05, 2007

La Ba Yaw Kigu gani Wrakigu






Asfandyar, Achakzai address to PkMAP convention La ba yaw kigu gani wrakigu






QUETTA: The top Pakhtun leaders in a surprise move showed unprecedented unity against brutality and massacre of their masses and annouced a joint struggle by forging an alliance between Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) in Quetta on Monday. ANP president Asfandyar Wali showed up along with PkMAP president Mehmood Khan Achakzai in their party convention held in Sadiq Shaheed Ground. To see Asfandyar Wali in a such a huge rally was not only the wish of the Pakhtun nation but also the need of the hour as some political leaders called it. Mehmood Khan Achakzai offered the ANP president, "take a move and I will back you up in your struggle for the rights of Pakhtun as this is not the matter of being young or old". He praised Asfandyar Wali for his struggle and showed full confidence in him. While appreciating Mehmood Khan Achakzai words for him, Asfandyar promised that he will do any thing which will bring peace and harmony among Pakhtun masses. The ANP leader told the gathering that the time has come that we should removed all differences among us and unite for protecting our dignity and respect. Asfandyar Wali Khan in front of thousands of people offered Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party an alliance between the two parties which was ratified by more than 50,000 people present in the occasion by standing amid warm applause. Replying to the ANP president offer, Chairman Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai not only accepted the offer but also said that his party will accept all the terms and conditions set by ANP for the proposed alliance. It is to be noted here that it is the first time in the history of PkMAP that central president of ANP participated in the party convention of PkMAP. Earlier, Central President of ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan arrived in Quetta and instead of staying at the residence of any ANP leader reached at the residence of PkMAP leader Senator Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai. Both the leaders discussed in length the proposed party alliance between the two nationalist forces. The political circles are giving importance to this meeting and forecast that it could prove an important milestone in the alliance between these two parties. Meanwhile, addressing thousands of political workers at PkMAP, he said that the Pakhtuns of Afghanistan, Tribal areas, Balochistan and Karachi are fighting for their survival. "The anti-Pakhtun forces are bent upon destroying the very existence of Pakhtuns. The May 12 Karachi killings of Pakhtuns is the real testimony to this fact that the very survival of Pakhtuns as a nation is at stake", he added. He said the purpose of his presence in the convention of PkMAP is to give a clear signal that ANP wants unity among all Pakhtuns. "If today we couldn’t be able to get united than the future generations of Pakhtuns would never forgive us", he maintained. He said that the alliance between ANP and PkMAP is the cry of the time as both parties are the true representatives of millions of Pakhtuns wherever they live. He said that the alliance and unity between Pakhtuns is a matter of life and death and our nation and history demand from us that we close our ranks and emerge as unified political force. Around 50,000 people rose at the occasion and extended stunning applause to the Central President of Awami National Party, Asfandyar Wali Khan. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of PkMAP Mehmood Khan Achakzai said he has great respect for the family of Asfandyar Wali Khan as they rendered unmatched sacrifices for the welfare of Pakhtuns for so many decades. He said that there is a great level of understanding existing between the two parties and his party has always tried to create better relations with the leadership of ANP. He further said that the political importance of such political alliance couldn't be downplayed as it would have a very positive and long lasting repercussions for the Pakhtuns nation and PkMAP will try its level best to accommodate all the terms and conditions of ANP. He promised to thousands of party workers that they would hear a very pleasant news in coming days. The convention was also addressed by Nawab Jogezai, Abdur Rahim Mandukhel, Mukhtiar Yousafzai and office bearers of Pashtun Action Committee Karachi. At the end of party convention an important meeting was held between Asfandyar Wali Khan and Mehmood Khan Achakzai at the residence of Nawab Ayaz Khan in which the pros and cons of such political alliance were discussed. -


The Frontier Post, June 05, 2007