PkMAP’s Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal Says Authoritarian Policies Have Undermined Democracy and Political Stability

Quetta: Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Central General Secretary Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal has said that repeated authoritarian measures and the suspension of the Constitution have weakened political stability and democracy in Pakistan.

In a statement, Ziaratwal alleged that powerful state institutions had created obstacles to constitution-making and repeatedly suspended, violated, or abrogated the country’s consensual Constitution after its adoption, resulting in prolonged political instability.

He further claimed that authoritarian policies have negatively affected Pakistan’s political, economic, and social landscape, while undermining provincial autonomy and national unity. He also expressed concern over the country’s education, healthcare, unemployment, and inflation, saying that these challenges have worsened over time.

The PkMAP leader alleged that the security situation, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has deteriorated due to ongoing militant violence. He claimed that governments have failed to effectively address the law and order situation in the two provinces.

Ziaratwal said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chairman of the party, has repeatedly called for a national conference involving political parties, the military, the judiciary, the media, lawyers, and other stakeholders to discuss constitutional, political, democratic, parliamentary, economic, and social challenges facing the country and to develop a collective roadmap for resolving them.

According to the statement, lasting political stability can only be achieved through the restoration of constitutional rule, the supremacy of Parliament, democratic governance, equal rights for all federating units, and ensuring that all state institutions function within the constitutional framework.

The statement concluded by warning that if the country’s leadership fails to address the current challenges, the national situation could deteriorate further, adding that the government would bear responsibility for the consequences.