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PESHAWAR, Dec 01 (APP): Political analysts and former policymakers have strongly criticized the announcement by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stage protest demonstrations outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Adiala Jail, terming it an attempt to exert pressure on state institutions for favourable outcomes.
Political experts said the uncalled-for announcement came at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was grappling with menace of terrorism, deteriorating security dynamics on the western borders, and serious economic challenges—circumstances that, they argue, require closer cooperation with the federal government and security agencies rather than confrontation to achieve lasting peace in the province.
Former KP minister Wajid Ali Khan, speaking to APP, said the Chief Minister’s focus on agitation politics was dangerous for democracy, political tolerance and coexistence.
He said the recent suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary in the heart of Peshawar involving three Afghan bombers illustrated the rising threat of terrorism in KP. “Instead of addressing these grave security concerns, the CM is busy staging protests for favourable outcomes for his jailed leader,” he added.
Wajid Ali said the people of KP had been left alone by the provincial government. “Imran Niazi is a convicted prisoner, and any meeting with him must be strictly in line with the jail manual, not through political pressure or street agitation,” he maintained.
He highlighted that unemployment was rising, and flood victims in Malakand Division especially in Buner were still awaiting relief and compensation by PTI Government.
“Many floods victims are living under the open sky in harsh winter, but the provincial government’s priorities revolve solely around the convocted PTI founder,” he said.
Hamza Khan, PML-N Nowshera district president, termed the CM’s call for protests illogical and inexplicable. He said PTI’s negative politics had weakened its politcal standing in the province, pointing to the recent by-election victory of Akhtar Nawaz on a PML-N ticket with an overwhelming majority in Haripur.
He also criticized poor governance in Peshawar, saying the city had been turned into a traffic mess due to the ill-planned BRT corridor, with overcrowded buses inconveniencing passengers, students, women and persons with disabilities.
Renowned academic Professor Dr. Hilali, former Chairman of the Political Science Department at the University of Peshawar, emphasized that democracy thrives through dialogue, not street agitation or sit ins.
He said Pakistan’s democratic journey had remained turbulent due to extra-constitutional measures and political conflicts that prevented any elected prime minister from completing a full five-year term.
“These repeated interruptions have left deep scars on politcal intolerance and polity, which in turn have harmed economic and democratic progress,” he stated.
He said governance in Pakistan had long been fractured, driven by political fault lines and power-centric agitation. “This instability has weakened the system’s ability to deliver inclusive and effective governance, deepening societal divisions,” he said.
Calling for broad-based political consensus, Dr. Hilali stressed that Pakistan was created through a democratic struggle that offered an inclusive mechanism for resolving conflicts. He urged both government and opposition to prioritize dialogue to address terrorism, poverty, and unemployment in KP.
He warned that a continued political divide, absence of communication channels, and persistent blame games could have inconceivable negative effects on democracy and state institutions.
Dr. Hilali argued that political harmony was essential in the current geopolitical climate. “It involves fostering dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence of differing viewpoints within democratic norms,” he added.
Strengthening institutions, upholding constitutional principles, and ensuring rule of law were necessary for resolving public issues, he said.
He emphasized that political harmony was not merely idealistic but crucial for strengthening democracy and ensuring the supremacy of parliament.
Experts collectively called for a renewed commitment to democratic values, constitutional supremacy, and an inclusive political culture. Only through unity and responsible governance, they said, could KP overcome its current challenges and build a stable, prosperous future of Pakistan.