KARACHI: Awami National Party (ANP) President Senator Aimal Wali Khan has leveled serious accusations against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claiming the party has facilitated the return of 40,000 terrorists to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). During a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, Khan branded PTI as the “political wing of the Taliban.”
Khan underscored Karachi’s critical importance, describing it as Pakistan’s “economic hub and cultural melting pot,” where Muhajirs, Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Baloch communities coexist. “Karachi belongs to all ethnicities; it’s a bouquet representing the entire nation,” he remarked.
Turning to PTI, Khan unleashed a scathing attack on its founder, Imran Khan. “Imran Khan is no defender of democracy. He only supports state institutions when they serve his interests. If we can reconcile with the Sharifs, does that mean we should join forces with devils too?” he questioned rhetorically.
He further accused the West, particularly Israel, of playing a role in PTI’s political ascent, implying that the party’s origins were not entirely homegrown. “PTI was never a legitimate political force,” Khan claimed.
Referring to the political situation in K-P, Khan alleged that PTI’s rise to power in the province was orchestrated with the backing of militants. “How can elections in three provinces be disputed while K-P’s are deemed fair?” he asked, casting doubt on the legitimacy of PTI’s electoral success in the region.
Looking ahead, Khan speculated that figures like Ali Amin Gandapur could soon be positioned as the next chief minister of K-P. He added that PTI’s leaders, such as Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, are not loyal to Imran Khan but to “other powers.”
Khan also lambasted the former PTI government for mismanaging national assets. “First, they sold off buffaloes, then they sold the nation’s dignity,” he remarked.
On national security, Khan expressed concerns over the dire situation in K-P, where, according to him, governance has collapsed in more than half the region. He warned of looming chaos if the provincial government fails to restore police control.
Addressing judicial matters, Khan was critical of the Supreme Court, accusing it of focusing on cases that generate media buzz rather than ensuring justice. He called for judicial reforms and greater representation in the courts, including judges from Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Regarding Pakistan’s economic woes, Khan condemned the country’s reliance on foreign loans. “No nation or household can survive on borrowed money,” he stressed, calling for fiscal discipline and an end to wasteful spending.
In his concluding remarks, Khan reiterated that there could never be an alliance between ANP and PTI. He claimed that PTI is now reliant on figures like Maulana Fazlur Rehman, unable to survive politically without external support.
Reflecting on ANP’s long history of sacrifice, Khan declared, “We gave our lives for this country, yet those sacrifices have gone unrewarded. We nurtured these terrorists, but they spread terror. PTI and the Taliban are two sides of the same coin—PTI is the Taliban’s political wing.”
