ANP VICTORY MUST MATCH PAKHTOON ASPIRATIONS
Dr. Adalat Khan
March 07, 2008
By Dr Adalat Khan
Awami National Party or ANP found itself again as the centre of attention when it got the majority seats in the so called NWFP province. Can ANP build on this success and emerge as the major player in the province or will it again like in the past miss the boat of leading the people of the province? The answer to both the questions may be positive or negative. In fact the correct answer will be it depends! It depends on what? Yes it depends on the aspirations of the people of the province in general and Pakhtoons in particular. Based on the general views the following are some of the major issues dear to the people of the province. Solutions of some of them will earn long term loyalty and respect for the party not only from Pakhtoons alone but the people of the province at large.
Name Change of the Province: The name NWFP is not acceptable to any of the inhabitants of the province as it is considered as a colonial abuse to the proud and brave people of the province. Call it Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakhtoonistan, Afghania, and any other decent name and this issue shall be once and for ever resolved. ANP has always been the champion of the name change movement but let us hope that this long due change take place this time.
Empowering ordinary people: Pakhtoons by nature are freedom loving people but even then some of the stalwarts of the ANP are Khans. Some of these khans have entrenched feudal mentalities suppressing ordinary people in their villages. While in Peshawar they sing a song of Pakhtoon unity but in there villages they torment and suppress ordinary and poor villagers and try to keep them backward. The mission of Bach Khan was equality and camaraderie for all Pukhtoons but at the later stage of the party history some of tyrant khans gained prominence in the party cadres. These khans have either the blood of their farmers on their hands or the very backwardness, frustration and problems of the people are due to them. ANP should either reform or shift out these tyrants from the party cadres.
Dealing with terrorism and fanaticism: The victory of ANP in the NWFP is a referendum on rejecting terrorism, fanaticism and the suicide bombing culture. The party must grab this opportunity and reform or fight tooth and nail forces which are killing innocent people and themselves. The general mood is against these elements and ANP must utilize this opportunity.
Cultural revival: MMA as well as the talibans persecuted Pakhtoon music, poetry, and other entertainments which form part of the Pakhtoon culture. It is now the duty of the party to create suitable conditions for the Pakhtoon cultural revival and encourage its artists to perform both in local as well as national and international cultural events.
Economic woes: Unemployment, illiteracy, inflation, and lack of economic opportunities are some of the conditions which have created a sense of hopelessness and helplessness among the people not only in this province but throughout the country. The people can not survive on empty slogans but are more worried about putting food in front of themselves and their families. Economic progress is perhaps the single panacea which will solve most of the problems facing the people including terrorism and religious bigotry.
Once again by winning election ANP has emerged as the party of choice for most of the people of the NWFP, but ANP must meet the expectations of the people and pave the way for its long term victory in the province. The aspirations of the people are simple and achievable and not a tall order as some would think. It is now for the ANP to continue winning the hearts and souls of the people by fulfilling the expectations as outline here or travel back to the wilderness which it had experienced in the past. Of course the first is a better and sensible choice.
Dr Adalat Khan is an international columnist who is based in Malaysia and can be reached at dradalat@gmail.com
Awami National Party or ANP found itself again as the centre of attention when it got the majority seats in the so called NWFP province. Can ANP build on this success and emerge as the major player in the province or will it again like in the past miss the boat of leading the people of the province? The answer to both the questions may be positive or negative. In fact the correct answer will be it depends! It depends on what? Yes it depends on the aspirations of the people of the province in general and Pakhtoons in particular. Based on the general views the following are some of the major issues dear to the people of the province. Solutions of some of them will earn long term loyalty and respect for the party not only from Pakhtoons alone but the people of the province at large.
Name Change of the Province: The name NWFP is not acceptable to any of the inhabitants of the province as it is considered as a colonial abuse to the proud and brave people of the province. Call it Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakhtoonistan, Afghania, and any other decent name and this issue shall be once and for ever resolved. ANP has always been the champion of the name change movement but let us hope that this long due change take place this time.
Empowering ordinary people: Pakhtoons by nature are freedom loving people but even then some of the stalwarts of the ANP are Khans. Some of these khans have entrenched feudal mentalities suppressing ordinary people in their villages. While in Peshawar they sing a song of Pakhtoon unity but in there villages they torment and suppress ordinary and poor villagers and try to keep them backward. The mission of Bach Khan was equality and camaraderie for all Pukhtoons but at the later stage of the party history some of tyrant khans gained prominence in the party cadres. These khans have either the blood of their farmers on their hands or the very backwardness, frustration and problems of the people are due to them. ANP should either reform or shift out these tyrants from the party cadres.
Dealing with terrorism and fanaticism: The victory of ANP in the NWFP is a referendum on rejecting terrorism, fanaticism and the suicide bombing culture. The party must grab this opportunity and reform or fight tooth and nail forces which are killing innocent people and themselves. The general mood is against these elements and ANP must utilize this opportunity.
Cultural revival: MMA as well as the talibans persecuted Pakhtoon music, poetry, and other entertainments which form part of the Pakhtoon culture. It is now the duty of the party to create suitable conditions for the Pakhtoon cultural revival and encourage its artists to perform both in local as well as national and international cultural events.
Economic woes: Unemployment, illiteracy, inflation, and lack of economic opportunities are some of the conditions which have created a sense of hopelessness and helplessness among the people not only in this province but throughout the country. The people can not survive on empty slogans but are more worried about putting food in front of themselves and their families. Economic progress is perhaps the single panacea which will solve most of the problems facing the people including terrorism and religious bigotry.
Once again by winning election ANP has emerged as the party of choice for most of the people of the NWFP, but ANP must meet the expectations of the people and pave the way for its long term victory in the province. The aspirations of the people are simple and achievable and not a tall order as some would think. It is now for the ANP to continue winning the hearts and souls of the people by fulfilling the expectations as outline here or travel back to the wilderness which it had experienced in the past. Of course the first is a better and sensible choice.
Dr Adalat Khan is an international columnist who is based in Malaysia and can be reached at dradalat@gmail.com