Oppression Reaches its Peak in Pashtun-Baloch Homeland, No Segment of Society is Safe: Asghar Khan

Chaman (By Syed Sardar Muhammad Khondai)

Provincial President of Awami National Party (ANP), Asghar Khan Achakzai, has said that oppression, tyranny and despotism have reached their peak in the Pashtun-Baloch homeland. From protectors to judges, from traders to political leadership, and from common laborers and poor masses to women, no segment of society has remained safe from state-sponsored violence.
He said that for the last four decades, Pashtuns have been continuously massacred under one pretext or another, but now this tale of cruelty has crossed all limits of endurance. For decades, a bloodbath was orchestrated in Afghanistan and its people were pushed into destruction and unrest, and now by imposing restrictions on trade and movement with the same Afghanistan, the economic murder of the people living along the Durand Line is being committed.
On the other hand, he said, youth are being handed guns for a meager amount of money and being used against each other. This game is in no way acceptable and those responsible will have to answer before the court of history.
Those who tried to suppress the public voice by calling the Balochistan issue merely a matter of three Sardars should now see that common people from every village, every city and every walk of life in Balochistan have risen for their rights. Today this voice is not of a few individuals or Sardars, but of the entire oppressed people, which cannot be silenced through force, intimidation and coercion.
Terming the tragedy of August 8 as another Babara in the history of Pashtuns, he said the tragic incident wrote another dark chapter of cruelty, insensitivity and ruthless use of power. Similarly, the Ziarat tragedy has once again proved after ten years that the methods and characters of oppression may change, but the nature of tyranny against the oppressed people remains the same.
He said we strongly condemn every attempt to occupy the Pashtun-Baloch land, plunder its resources, political exploitation, economic blockade and intimidation of the people. No power can claim peace, progress and stability by depriving the inhabitants of their fundamental rights. To continue the occupation, oppression and tyranny imposed on the homeland, a fake parliament was formed on February 8, 2024, so that no voice could be raised from the assembly. In this grim and difficult situation of Balochistan, the assembly has maintained a criminal silence.
He termed the raids on hotels, cloth and electronics markets and pushcart vendors in Karachi, subjecting them to torture, and the humiliation of Pashtuns and Balochs in the name of ID cards at the entry points of Punjab as intolerable acts which will have dire consequences. But we want to make it clear that the Pashtun-Baloch, true patriotic and pro-people leadership and the people will never give up their motherland, their resources and their fundamental rights.
The Awami National Party will not abandon its people under any circumstances and will continue its political, democratic and constitutional struggle against oppression and injustice at all levels. The slogan of new provinces is being raised to ignore the real issues so that the remaining resources can be easily plundered. The demands of justice will only be met and the heirs will be redressed through the implementation of the demands of the Ziarat sit-in.
The great sacrifices of the martyrs of August 8 are a debt upon us. The sacrifices of the martyrs of Spin Tangi, Babara, Science College, Chaman, August 8, Mangi Dam, Shaheed Malik Ubaidullah Kasi, Shaheed Khaliq Dad Babar and Shaheed Noorullah Dummar are for authority over resources, restoration of basic human rights and rule of law. Keeping these sacrifices in view, we will give priority to peaceful political struggle.
National highways and mountains are under the control of armed groups. We are not concerned in whatever name we are killed; it is the responsibility of the state to protect us. After a prolonged genocide, now our economic massacre is being continued. Due to restrictions on trade and movement along the Durand Line, hundreds of thousands of people have become unemployed. We reaffirm our full support for the demands of the Chaman sit-in.
He expressed these views while addressing a grand public gathering held in front of Bacha Khan Markaz on Trench Road, Chaman, in memory of the martyrs of August.
The gathering was also addressed by ANP Provincial General Secretary Mabat Kaka, District President Abdul Khaliq Hamdard, Central Additional Secretary Ubaidullah Abid, Additional Deputy Secretary Javed Kakar, Central Secretary Rasheed Khan Nasir, Members Central Committee Dr. Abdul Samad Achakzai, Nizamuddin Kakar, Syed Abdul Rab Agha, Provincial Vice President Jamaluddin Rishtya, Advocate Hidayat Khan Achakzai of Chaman Bar, District General Secretary Samiullah Achakzai, Chairman Gul Zaman, Gul Janu, Ismat Warkhata, Muhammad Ali Madla and Hafiz Suleman.
The speakers threw light in detail on the struggle and sacrifices of the Pashtun national movement, saying that the non-violent movement of Fakhr-e-Afghan Bacha Khan is based on struggle and sacrifice, which has a long list of martyrs. The martyrs of Spin Tangi and Babara are the most tragic incidents in human history, where hundreds of Khudai Khidmatgars, including children, women, youth and elders, embraced martyrdom.
The speakers said that like the martyrs of August 8, Pashtun police personnel were also massacred in the Ziarat tragedy. The current situation demands unity and solidarity from us, especially the Pashtun, Baloch and Hazara nations will have to unite to foil the negative designs of the ruling elite.
The meeting was presided over by District President Abdul Khaliq Haqmal. ANP workers from across the district participated in the form of processions and thousands of people attended the gathering. At the end, prayers were offered for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs of August 8 and all martyrs and elders of the Pashtun-Baloch national movement.