Islamabad: The Punjab government has refused to grant permission for a rally planned by the Awami National Party (ANP) in Liaquat Bagh on February 14 in memory of Bacha Khan and Wali Khan. Due to this decision, the party has announced the cancellation of the event.
Addressing a press conference at the Islamabad Press Club, ANP’s central spokesperson Engineer Ihsanullah Khan, MPA Nisar Baz, former MPA Nisar Mohmand, Punjab provincial president Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Punjab general secretary Ameer Bahadur Khan Hoti, and other party leaders strongly criticized the Punjab government for its decision.
ANP leaders alleged that the Punjab government is trying to suppress their stance against the ongoing injustices faced by Pashtuns in Punjab. They accused the government of attempting to cover up these injustices by preventing ANP from holding its rally.
Engineer Ihsanullah Khan stated that the ban on ANP’s rally at Liaquat Bagh exposes the Punjab government’s discriminatory policies. He also condemned the federal and provincial governments for their handling of the rising terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling it a direct result of state policies.
He further alleged that Rs. 500 billion allocated for counterterrorism efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been lost to corruption. Additionally, he criticized the provincial government’s failure to address recent sectarian violence in Kurram.
Despite the cancellation, ANP leaders vowed to hold the rally at Liaquat Bagh at a later date, which will be decided after internal consultations. They warned the Punjab government that any further attempts to block their political activities would be met with strong resistance, stating that the government will forget the November 26.
The leaders urged the Punjab government to respect their democratic rights and avoid obstructing their peaceful political struggle. They warned that if their path was blocked again, they would be compelled to take decisive actions.
