Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Holds Historic National Jirga in Quetta, Pays Tribute to Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel

Quetta:The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNAP) held a historic National Jirga in Quetta’s Star Market Hall under the leadership of Party Chairman Khushal Khan Kakar and Co-Chairman Mukhtar Khan Yousafzai. The Jirga saw a large turnout of members, including central executives, provincial executives from three provinces, and members from Islamabad and other parts of the country.

The meeting was dedicated to marking the eighth death anniversary of Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel, the legendary leader of the Pashtun-Afghan national political movement. During the Jirga, leaders paid heartfelt tributes to Mandokhel for his immense contributions to the national movement, his intellectual and political services, and his role in shaping the Pashtun national cause.

The Jirga featured speeches from Party Chairman Khushal Khan Kakar, Co-Chairman Mukhtar Khan Yousafzai, Senior Deputy Chairman Raza Muhammad Raza, General Secretary Khurshid Kakaji, Central Secretary Obaidullah Babat, and Information Secretary Muhammad Isa Roshan. The proceedings began with a recitation of the Holy Quran by Maulana Fazal Karim.

In a special address, Obaidullah Babat was warmly welcomed by the party workers. The meeting reached a consensus on several constitutional amendments suggested by the Constitutional Committee of the party, including the approval of these amendments to align the party’s manifesto with contemporary political challenges. The meeting also discussed the current dire situation of the Pashtun-Afghan homeland, noting the devastating consequences of a military-backed rule under the guise of civilian governance. Several key political and organizational decisions were made to address the constitutional, political, economic, and social crises facing the Pashtun people.

The Jirga passed strong resolutions, rejecting all anti-Pashtun and anti-national actions, and called for the immediate restoration of Pashtun-Afghan identity and rights. Party Chairman Khushal Khan Kakar paid a glowing tribute to Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel, highlighting his contributions to the Pashtun-Afghan national movement and his role in organizing the Pashtun national struggle based on intellectual and ideological foundations. He noted that Mandokhel’s leadership played a crucial role in guiding the movement toward the right direction.

Kakar stated that Abdul Rahim Mandokhel was instrumental in the formation of the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party, which became the true representative party of the Pashtun and other oppressed nations of the country. Mandokhel’s work in shaping the party’s ideological framework and guiding it through difficult times has left an indelible mark on Pashtun history.

Khushal Khan Kakar further emphasized that the Pashtun-Afghan people are currently facing their worst political, social, and economic crises. He noted that the Pashtun people are being deprived of their historical rights and identity, both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The ongoing situation in Afghanistan, where the Pashtun identity is being systematically undermined, and the economic hardships faced by millions of Pashtun people on both sides of the Durand Line, were key points of concern during the Jirga.

The party leaders also raised the issue of the significant underrepresentation of Pashtuns in Pakistan’s national institutions, with the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Pashtunkhwa being grossly undercounted in the national census. They criticized the government’s decision to cut off loans and grants to Pashtun areas, while allocating billions in commercial district grants to Punjab and Sindh.

Kakar condemned the military operations being conducted in Pashtun areas under the pretext of counterterrorism, which he described as part of a larger plan to dispossess the Pashtun people of their land and resources. He warned that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and Apex Committees, which were established without constitutional backing, were part of a broader strategy to exert colonial control over Pashtun land, minerals, and natural resources.

In closing, Khushal Khan Kakar called for the unity of all democratic and progressive forces to form a national democratic front that would work towards the liberation of the Pashtun-Afghan people and the establishment of their rightful place in the world. He reiterated the party’s commitment to peaceful and constitutional means of struggle, but also stressed that the Pashtun people would not shy away from using every possible means to secure their rights if their peaceful efforts were thwarted.

The Jirga concluded with a call for all party members to intensify their efforts in further organizing and strengthening the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party, ensuring it remains a true representative of the Pashtun people’s national and democratic aspirations.