PESHAWAR – Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has called upon the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to recognise the existence of Pashtuns in Karachi, otherwise peace in Karachi would be nothing more than a “dream”.
“Dialogue is the only way for restoration peace in Karachi, but we should be recognise each other, otherwise the restoration of peace will remain a dream,” ANP chief said at Nishtar Hall while addressing a gathering to mark the 5th death anniversary of Khan Addul Ghaffar Khan, commonly known as Bacha Khan and the 23rd death anniversary of Wali Khan.
Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Senator Afrasiab Khattak and Information Minister Main Iftikhar Hussain were present on the occasion. “War is not a solution to any problem and the only solution to the peace issue in Karachi and Talibanisation is dialogue and negotiation, as preached by non-violent philospher Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan, but MQM should recognise the Pashtuns’ existence and militants should lay down their arms,” he said.
Khan said both parties should accept each other for the sake of peace in the region. He said, “When Mahajars came to Karachi, they demanded recognition from Sindhis in Karachi, now Pashtuns demand acceptance in Karachi as well.” He said Karachi was not a city of any single community but it was a city of all Pakistanis, therefore the MQM should also respect the mandate of others.
“The ANP believes in the philosophy of non-violence of Bacha Khan and would never try to seek solutions to conflicts through wars and guns. For every problem, the remedy is dialogue,” he said, adding that Pashtuns had never accepted dominance by imperialistic forces. The ANP chief said they would support the PPP and would not derail democracy.
He said that President Asif Ali Zardari had fulfilled all of his promises that he made with the ANP and in a short span of time, the ANP had achieved its goal of renaming the province. Khan said all available resources would be utilised to bring everlasting peace to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in this regard, they would not allow their land to be use against any one.
MQM must recognise Pashtuns’ existence in Karachi, says ANP
