Current Situation More Dangerous Than Martial Law, Attack on Mahmood Achakzai Shows Rulers’ Panic: Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal

**Quetta (Daily Qudrat Quetta):** Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Central General Secretary of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), has said that the country’s present conditions are even more dangerous than past periods of dictatorship, and that the recent attack on Mahmood Khan Achakzai reflects the panic of the ruling authorities. He vowed that the democratic struggle would continue under all circumstances.

He was speaking at a condolence reference held at the party’s central secretariat on the 38th death anniversary of former central general secretary of PkMAP, the late Abdul Razaq Khan Dautani. The event was presided over by Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal and addressed by central secretaries Dr Hamid Khan Achakzai and Salahuddin Achakzai, senior party leader Dr Sharbat Mandokhail, provincial deputy secretary Soorat Khan Kakar, Chaman district secretary Jamal Khan Achakzai, and other party leaders and representatives. Provincial General Secretary Kabir Afghan conducted the stage proceedings, while recitation from the Holy Quran was performed by Rahmatullah Nazim.

In his presidential address, Ziaratwal paid rich tribute to Abdul Razaq Khan Dautani for his lifelong national, political, and democratic services, and for his unwavering role in organizing and strengthening the party. He reaffirmed the resolve that the party would fulfill the national aspirations envisioned by the late leader through a strong and organized political structure.

He said Abdul Razaq Dautani, despite holding an engineering degree, chose public service and political struggle over government employment and privileges. Following in the footsteps of Khan Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, he played a historic role in mobilizing the masses and consolidating the party during difficult times.

Criticizing the current political situation, Ziaratwal said that conditions under previous military rulers—Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf—were not as alarming as those prevailing today. He said the Constitution and democracy have been trampled, while industry, agriculture, employment, and trade opportunities have collapsed. Rampant corruption, commissions, and percentages have paralyzed state institutions, while basic necessities such as peace, education, healthcare, clean drinking water, and jobs have become scarce.

He alleged that national resources, including minerals, forests, agricultural lands, and properties, are being unlawfully seized through manipulated transfers. He further said parliament has been continuously undermined, and that on February 8, 2024, the public mandate was “brazenly robbed,” pushing the country into one of the worst crises in its history and leading to international isolation.

Highlighting Pashtun issues, Ziaratwal said Pashtuns are being deprived of basic rights, including identity cards, and are being denied opportunities for trade, employment, and labor. He claimed that Pashtuns are being forced to live as third-class citizens in both the country and the province, warning that these deprivations would continue until Pashtuns achieve political authority and representation.

Referring to the recent attack on the convoy of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Ziaratwal termed it unconstitutional, undemocratic, and inhumane, and strongly condemned the incident. He said such actions would not deter the ongoing struggle for constitutional supremacy, democratic governance, parliamentary sovereignty, equality of nations within a true federal system, the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, an end to what he called “Form-47 imposed governments,” and the holding of fresh, transparent elections under an independent Election Commission.

He concluded by saying that the hopes of oppressed nations and marginalized people in Pakistan are now linked with Mahmood Khan Achakzai, and emphasized that every party worker must be prepared to face all challenges in the continued struggle for the protection of the Constitution, democracy, and the rights of the people.