Pakistan at a Dangerous Crossroads, Says Mahmood Khan Achakzai; Demands Justice, Democracy, and Regional Rights

Quetta:Chairman of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and head of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aaeen Pakistan, Member of the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, in a fiery press conference, accused the current government of clinging to power through “force, wealth, and the support of powerful institutions.” He warned that the current approach to national and international affairs is leading the country down a dangerous path.

Addressing a wide range of issues, Achakzai criticized the government’s handling of regional resources, financial dependency on the IMF, the treatment of Afghan refugees, and the diminishing role of democracy and constitutional supremacy in Pakistan. He called for immediate transparency regarding the use of IMF funds, asserting that Pashtun and Baloch areas have not benefited from international loans, and emphasized that “we will only repay what has been spent in our regions.”

Achakzai strongly condemned the **Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)**, labeling it a threat to the 18th Amendment, provincial autonomy, and democratic foundations. He called it a veiled attempt to centralize control over local resources and expressed concerns over the allocation of land to corporations without local consultation.

He also expressed solidarity with BNP leader Akhtar Mengal’s demands for the release of missing Baloch girls, stating that even a single act of empathy from the provincial government could have averted ongoing protests.

Regarding Afghan refugees, Achakzai decried the mistreatment of Afghans, particularly by the governments of Punjab and Sindh, calling it “inhumane and unacceptable.” He urged **UNHCR**, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to create a proper framework for refugee management, noting that Afghans have significantly contributed to Pakistan’s economy. “They are not strangers. Many have invested billions in our markets. We must honor that relationship,” he said.

On the global stage, Achakzai appealed to countries like the **United States, China, Russia, and the European Union** to forge relationships with the people of Pakistan, not with what he termed “vote-thieves and conscience-sellers.” He warned that the continuation of extractive policies and suppression of democratic voices could turn Pakistan into a battleground similar to past war-torn regions.

Achakzai touched upon the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and urging the world to uphold justice. “We are not against Israel because of religion, but because of injustice against the Palestinian people. Humanity must prevail,” he said.

Calling for immediate electoral reforms, Achakzai urged all political parties—PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, ANP, and others—to unite and conduct transparent elections within four months. “Let Imran Khan contest freely. If he wins, so be it. Let democracy prevail,” he stated.

In response to questions about Balochistan’s situation and Nawaz Sharif’s return to London, Achakzai dismissed speculation and emphasized that the Balochistan issue cannot be seen in isolation but is intrinsically linked to Pakistan’s larger constitutional and democratic crisis.

He concluded with a stark warning: “You cannot build a nation with batons and prisons. We must return to humanity, dignity, and constitutionalism before it’s too late.”