Daily Times

It is regrettable that the Awami National Party (ANP) has issued show cause notices to senior leaders Bushra Gohar and Afrasiab Khattak. Even more so given that that the charges against them appear deliberately vague; with talk of engaging in activities that are against party interests, policy and discipline. And now that the ANP has itself circulated these notices on social media — the speculation has begun in earnest. Most of which revolves around the central leadership’s ongoing unease with the rapid rise of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

In fact, it was during the run-up to the general elections that fissures first started to emerge; with the ANP openly reprimanding those party workers seen to be increasingly close to the PTM. Particularly when it came to turning up to support the young Pashtuns at rallies while also advocating for their rights. Failure to follow these diktats saw Mohsin Dawar unceremoniously removed from his post of head of the party’s Youth Wing.

Presently, it looks as if this same path is being followed.

The Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in the tribal areas beyond have endured much over the decades. It had been hoped that new entrants into the political scene would serve to somewhat dilute the monopoly of identifying and strategising vis-à-vis fundamental human rights concerns. Which is another way of saying that the exchange of fresh perspectives can only benefit a singular objective.

The ANP courageously continued its election campaign against all too deadly odds; defying the targeted wave of terror waged by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This must be commended. Just as it must also be lamented that the party has failed to be galvanised by the PTM; which faces multiple threats including enforced disappearances. And by distancing itself from the young ethnic Pashtuns — the ANP risks reinforcing the narrative that casts the latter in the role of anti-state agents.

If this continues, it will only hamper genuine moves towards the realisation of Pashtun human rights. And this is a matter that demands unity not division. In other words, the forging of alliances — not necessarily mergers — ought to be the name of the game. This is a skill that the PTI tapped into when it came to boosting parliamentary strength. That being said, the Pashtun question should not be viewed through the prism of political expediency. But, rather, with a view to long-term and sustainable gains.

It is hoped that the ANP is listening.  *

Published in Daily Times, November 7^th 2018.