Aimal Wali Khan, the President of Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has accused Punjab authorities of engaging in harassment against Pakhtuns in the province.

“The Punjab government has initiated a crackdown on Pakhtuns from KP and Balochistan, who live there for work, trade, and business. If it doesn’t stop harassing Pakhtuns, we won’t allow the presence of non-locals in our province even if they’re government employees,” the ANP leader told a public meeting in the Titwalan area of Martung tehsil on Thursday.

عوامی نیشنل پارٹی پی کے 30 شانگلہ کے زيرا ہتمام ورکرز کنونشن، کنونشن میں کثیر تعداد میں ذمہ داران اور کارکنان نے شرکت کی۔ صدر اے این پی پختونخوا ایمل ولی خان کنونشن سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔#ANPShangla | #Vote4ANP pic.twitter.com/MMbt2qtft5

— Awami National Party (@ANPMarkaz) November 30, 2023

Highlighting the right of individuals with national identity cards issued by NADRA to live or work anywhere in the country, Khan emphasized that Pakhtuns should enjoy the same rights as people from other ethnic backgrounds.

شانگلہ pic.twitter.com/QInWz9bXAK

— Faisal Zeb Khan (@FaisalZebKhan2) December 1, 2023

He urged the central government to release due funds to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa promptly.

Khan further addressed economic disparities, stating that while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced 6,000 megawatts of electricity and sold it to the center at a nominal rate, its residents were compelled to purchase the same electricity at a significantly higher cost.

The ANP leader said the people shouldn’t sell votes for “plastic pipes, water tanks and electricity poles” and should instead vote for the ANP for their and next generations’ development.

Lots of chatter about who will take Shangla online … the answer was given today 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/LVP81mnHRr

— Samar Haroon Bilour (@SamarHBilour) November 30, 2023

He regretted that many coal miners from Shangla lost their lives due to a lack of safety measures at work. He blamed the issue on “bad governance and the corrupt system.”

He said coal mine workers significantly contributed to economic development but the state and government had neglected their welfare and development.

“As a lawmaker, I’ll strive for the workplace protection and welfare of miners,” he said.

The ANP leader said in the upcoming elections, the people should reject those, who had been making false promises to them for the last over a decade, and should vote for the ANP for their development.

ANP candidates Aurangzeb Khan (NA-11), Faisal Zeb Khan (PK-30), Altaf Khan (PK-29), district president Azam Khan and leader Gulab Shahpuri also addressed the meeting.