In a passionate address at a memorial ceremony in Pabbi, Awami National Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Mian Iftikhar Hussain criticized the provincial government for not fulfilling its promises and not effectively serving the public interest, stating that the government’s job is to govern and serve, not to protest.
Hussain mentioned the promise of releasing a political prisoner, which was a key part of Imran Khan’s election campaign. Despite being in power for three years, the government has yet to even facilitate a meeting with the prisoner. According to Hussain, this shows a lack of genuine commitment to their electoral promises.
He also criticized the ruling party for organizing protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where they are in power, instead of addressing issues in Rawalpindi and Punjab. Hussain argued that the role of the government is to govern and serve, not to protest.
The speech also mentioned economic grievances, criticizing the government for its management of oil prices. Hussain pointed out that the authorities delayed action when global prices decreased, but when there was a slight increase globally, they immediately implemented a significant price hike in the country. He said this is equivalent to unnecessarily burdening the public.
Hussain also expressed concerns about the distribution of resources, questioning why electricity and gas are distributed nationwide, while wheat seems to be monopolized by Punjab. He emphasized the need for fair distribution of resources across all provinces.
These statements come amid growing political tensions and economic challenges, highlighting the ongoing dissatisfaction with the current administration’s policies and priorities.