Holding general elections in polarized political atmosphere can produce fatal results like 70’s: Mahmood Khan Achakzay

Pashin (PNI) Improvement in Saudi Iran relations is a good omen, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan should also follow the suit. These views were expressed by Chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzay while addressing a huge gathering which the party traditionally organizes on the tail of every Eid.

Better relationship between Iran and Saudi Arab will have positive political, social and economic impacts on our region and largely on Middle East as well as on Muslim world. Besides it can reduce religious and sectarian extremism too, Achakzay maintained.

Achakzay urged India, Pakistan and Afghanistan that without wasting time they should also initiate such move immediately for normalizing their bilateral relationship. He further said that Afghanistan, Pakistan and their other neighboring states should neither interfere in each other affairs and establish friendly relationship on the bases of peaceful co existence for the sake of welfare of their respective citizens.

Regarding the current political and economic crises in the country, Achakzay said that Judge, general and politicians all should follow and obey the constitution. We would not allow any one, whether Judge, general or politician, to impose their dictatorship and warned that we will resist judicial martial law in the same manner as we did the military one.

Achakzay call upon the Judges to administer justice as per the law and constitution not on the bases of personal and political biases.

He maintained that no democratic mind person can oppose the elections, but at the same time Achakzay warned that without national consensus and normalizing the current polarized political atmosphere, holding elections can produce fatal results like the 1970’s elections. First, we should ensure that the constitution and parliament are supreme and make a mechanism to ensure that in future no general or judge can dare to interfere in politics.

To ensure the meaningful representation of small provinces and protect their rights and interests, Achakzay demand equal status and power for the upper house. The Senate should also have the power to introduce money bill like national assembly, Achakzay maintained. In Baluchistan, Pakhtun and Baloch should have equal representation and rights on the basis of fifty fifty formula.

Regarding Afghanistan, Achakzay demanded the international community to immediately release the frozen assets of Afghanistan so to mitigate the sufferings of Afghans. He called upon the Taliban to lift ban on women education and respect human rights but also warned that no one has the right to destabilize Afghanistan or threaten it integrity on the pretext of women or humans violations.

Besides, he also demanded that Pakistani authorities should open the crossing points e.g Chaman, Badinai, Qamardin ,Kadanai, Ghazni, Khost, Torkham and Nawa pass on the Durand Line and establish custom houses to facilitate border trade. In the prevailing economic hardships, joblessness, inflation and poverty in border regions, it provides alternative livelihood opportunities to the local population which can also contribute to peace.