PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Amir Haider Hoti has said the province cannot afford violent protests, urging political parties to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than street agitation.
In an exclusive interview with Azad Digital, Hoti discussed the political, economic and security challenges facing Pakistan, saying the country and particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needed stability under the current circumstances.
He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its protest strategy, saying political confrontation was making it difficult to achieve the stability needed to address the province’s security and economic challenges.
Hoti said political stability was essential for economic recovery and for coordinated efforts against militancy, adding that lasting peace for the public would remain difficult without political consensus.
Hoti Questions PTI Protest Strategy
Hoti criticised the PTI’s current protest plans and said political leaders should sit together and seek solutions through political means.
He questioned the repeated announcements of long marches on different dates, as well as plans for rallies and gatherings from Lakki Marwat through Karak, Kohat and Peshawar to Swabi.
He also questioned whether blocking roads within the province could help secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Hoti said there was also a contrast between the response in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, arguing that people in KP were being brought onto the streets while similar mobilisation was not being seen in Punjab.
At the same time, he welcomed the recent talks between the government and opposition, describing negotiations as an appropriate way to address political differences and expressing hope that the dialogue would produce progress.
Security Concerns
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained at the forefront of Pakistan’s fight against militancy for decades, while security concerns have intensified in several districts in recent months.
Security forces and civilians have faced attacks, with the deteriorating security situation adding pressure on the provincial administration.
Hoti said political tensions between the federal and provincial governments, together with protest campaigns, risked diverting attention from security challenges facing the province.
Hoti Criticises KP Government’s Response to Militancy
Commenting on the performance of the provincial government, Hoti accused the PTI-led administration of failing to fulfil its responsibilities in confronting militancy.
He alleged that the provincial government had largely limited its response to verbal condemnation instead of taking effective measures against militants.
Hoti called for a comprehensive national policy on terrorism, saying the federal government, provincial administrations and state institutions should work together to address the threat.
He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bearing the consequences of what he described as shortcomings in the provincial government’s response.
Call for Political Dialogue
Hoti said the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa required political stability and cooperation among political parties.
He argued that political disputes should be addressed through parliament and negotiations rather than prolonged street confrontations.
His comments come amid continuing political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led administration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as renewed debate over the party’s protest strategy and the province’s deteriorating security situation.
