Charsadda: Awami National Party (ANP) Provincial President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, during a press conference, strongly criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership for using its workers as pawns in the pursuit of power. He expressed solidarity with the families of PTI workers who lost their lives during recent protests, condemning the dangerous rhetoric used by party leaders. “Even talks of bringing shrouds for protests were made to incite violence,” he remarked.
Aimal Wali accused PTI of repeatedly manipulating its followers. “Leaders play with the minds of their workers but abandon them when things get tough,” he said. “Pukhtuns are labeled as brave and fighters, but in reality, they are being used as sacrifices for the political ambitions of Punjab and Islamabad.”
He questioned why the burden of protests and violence always falls on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while PTI leaders in Punjab remain unaffected. “No MNA or MPA faced batons; only workers were beaten,” he added.
Highlighting the recent displacements in Hangu and Kurram, he asked, “Is this what PTI’s backers envisioned when they brought the party to power?” He further criticized the federal government’s patience during protests, asking why no PTI leader faced any serious action despite the chaos.
Aimal Wali accused senior PTI leaders, including Ali Amin Gandapur, Umar Ayub, and Shibli Faraz, of preventing their party’s founding chairman from being released from jail. “They fear that if he is released, they will become irrelevant,” he claimed.
The ANP leader emphasized that Pakistan must prioritize democratic processes over political chaos. “Pakistan comes first, and democracy must prevail,” he said. He urged PTI leaders to face the consequences of breaking the law, just as ANP’s Bacha Khan did during the independence struggle.
Rejecting the idea of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aimal Wali stated that it would not solve the province’s problems. Instead, he called for political stability and accountability through legal means.
He also announced his intention to take legal action against the misuse of state resources by PTI during protests. “I will approach the court against the use of public funds for political agendas,” he declared.
Commenting on PTI’s governance, he said, “For five years, PTI only focused on managing Banigala’s kitchen and fought elections on incomplete projects like the BRT. In three consecutive elections, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was handed over to PTI through manipulation.”
