Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai stated on Sunday that Pakistan could transform into an Asian tiger within a few years if influential non-political entities ceased their interference in the country’s political affairs.
Speaking at a press conference hosted by the Mardan Press Club, where many party supporters were present, Achakzai emphasized that political parties and leaders have the rightful authority to govern the country, as they are elected by the people.
He asserted that Pakistan belongs to the Pakhtun people, who have resided in the region for thousands of years, and that their land is rich in natural resources and minerals. He claimed that the blessings described in Sura-i-Rehman of the Holy Quran are present on Pakhtun soil.
Achakzai criticized the “discriminatory and unjust” policies of previous rulers, which he said had led to the impoverishment of Pakhtuns. He pointed out that Pakhtuns were living in the region long before the formation of Pakistan and India, as well as before the births of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi.
He stressed that Pakhtuns, Baloch, and other minorities must be granted their due rights for Pakistan to remain unified. Achakzai asserted that the struggle for freedom was not just about building infrastructure but about allowing people to rule through their true representatives.
He also advocated for the imposition of the Constitution to safeguard the nation and emphasized that education in one’s mother language, as supported by the Constitution, is crucial for effective learning.
Responding to questions about the last general elections, Achakzai alleged that they were rigged and that those elected to parliament did not reflect the true will of the people. He described PTI founder Imran Khan as a popular leader.
Achakzai expressed readiness to engage in discussions with the establishment to facilitate a dignified exit from politics. He also called for impartial inquiries into the May 9 incidents, the fall of East Pakistan in 1971, and the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
