ANP holds former military leadership, Imran responsible for rise in militancy

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday blamed the return of militancy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on policies he said were pursued by former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, former ISI chief Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed and former prime minister Imran Khan, and demanded accountability for decisions that, according to him, worsened the province’s security situation.

He made the remarks during a protest organised by the ANP’s district Peshawar chapter in the Badhber area against an attempt on the life of ANP Pishtakhara tehsil president Malik Rehmanullah. Hussain voiced concern over what he described as a renewed wave of terrorism and a worsening law and order situation in the province, asking when those responsible for the policy of resettling militants would be held answerable.

Referring to Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed, he said that if legal action could be taken against him in other matters, then those behind policies that harmed the Pakhtun population should also face accountability. He also cited the recent armed attack on Malik Rehmanullah and a rocket attack on businessman Afzal Gujar in Swat, calling both incidents deeply troubling and criticising the authorities for failing to identify those behind them.

Hussain said that despite the killing of Afzal Gujar’s son, nephew and a guard in the Swat attack, no meaningful action had yet been taken, which, he said, raised serious concerns about the official response.

According to the ANP leader, the region has endured terrorism for nearly five decades, while certain elements within the ruling setup were still backing facilitators of militancy. He said the ANP had made exceptional sacrifices for peace and was among the first political parties to oppose the resettlement of militants in the province.

Hussain also said he had repeatedly received threats but would continue speaking against militancy. He said peace was essential for every citizen and vowed that his party would keep pursuing its struggle for its restoration.

Criticising the provincial government, he said the security situation was worsening while the administration remained preoccupied with efforts to secure the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. He also alleged large-scale corruption in the province and accused both the provincial and federal governments of failing to respond effectively to the growing threat of terrorism.

Hussain further said the National Action Plan had never been implemented in its true spirit. Responding to criticism that militancy had also persisted during the ANP’s own tenure in government, he said his party had not been in power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for the past 13 years. He maintained that during the militancy crisis in Malakand, the ANP had played an important role in restoring peace and re-establishing the state’s writ.

He said the party remained committed to a democratic and constitutional struggle for peace, development and the protection of Pakhtun rights, and would continue raising its voice against terrorism as well as the policies that, in its view, enabled its spread.