Unity

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.