PMAP held a massive public meeting in Pishin on the fourth day of Eid..
The Election commission of Pakistan officially notified the newly elected office..
PMAP elections were held in Quetta, Southern pakhtunkhwa on December 19-21, 2022..
PMAP is a continuation of the politics of its founder & inspiration, Khan Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai. A visual timeline is given below to demonstrate the various stages and important events in PMAP's history.
The British reached the river Abaseen(Indus), the natural and historic frontier between Afghanistan & India, in the 19th century and invaded Afghanistan resulting in three Anglo-Afghan wars in 1841, 1878 & 1919. Although the Afghans managed to prevent Afghanistan from being completely colonised like other countries in the region, the British annexed a vast swathe of Afghan territory. The British controlled these vast Afghan lands from Chitral in the north to Sibbi in the south(A small part of these lands had been lost to the Sikhs before the arrival of the British). The Afghans of these lands, Pakhtunkhwa, kept resisting against the British occupation and this anti-colonial freedom struggle took different armed & non-violent forms in the late 19th and first half of 20th century. One strand of this freedom struggle was the political struggle of Khan Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai in Southern Pakhtunkhwa. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party takes inspiration from all these anti-colonial freedom fighters but especially from Khan Shaheed and his struggle and considers itself the continuation of that struggle.
Khan Shaheed, at the age of 31, formed the first political party in his region, then known as British Balochistan. He named his party Anjuman-e-Watan. Anjuman-e-Watan was an anti-colonial party which struggled against the British and for the political rights of the people of British Balochistan. Before the formation of this party, Khan Shaheed had already formed relations with other freedom fighters including Baacha Khan, Baloch leaders and indian political parties like the Indian national Congress and the All India Muslim League. Anjuman-e Watan took active part in the non-cooperation movement and the Quit india movement against the British. Between 1929 and 1947, Khan Shaheed & his political friends had to got to jail many times. Consequently, he had to spend more than 10 years in jail under the British. This political party introduced politics of the masses in British Balochistan where the British appointed Shahi Jirga reigned supreme. Khan Shaheed was also the pioneer of journalism in the province.
Things did not get better for the Pashtuns after the formation of the new state of Pakistan. The people who had been part of the anti-colonial struggle against the British were persecuted and those who had supported the British came into power in the new state of Pakistan. Khan Shaheed was put under house arrest immediately after partition and then jailed from 1948 to 1954. After his release, he formed the "Wror Pashtun" party which demanded democracy in the country, an autonomous Pashtun province comprising the whole Pashtun territory in pakistan, official recognition for Pashto language & a non-aligned foreign policy among other issues. However, the rulers of Pakistan responded by implementing the One-Unit scheme, abolishing the existing provinces to eradicate the national identitites of the historic nations constituting West Pakistan and to impose the tyranny of Punjab by converting the majority of the Bengalis into parity. Khan Shaheed was again imprisoned.
To struggle against the One-Unit scheme, seven political parties from Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan & Bengal merged to form National Awami Party. Wror Pashtun was also merged into NAP. NAP's manifesto included democracy, social justice, abolishing the One-Unit, forming provinces on national & linguistic basis, provincial autonomy, official recognition of national languages & cultures and a non-aligned foreign policy. NAP very soon gained mass support and were expected to do very well in the upcoming elections. However, the military imposed martial law in 1958 and banned all political activity in the country. A military court sentenced Khan Shaheed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. He remained the only political prisoner to spend the whole Ayub Martial law in prison. He was finally released in 1968.
As a result of a decade long struggle, the political forces in the country finally succeeded in abolishing the one unit but the dream of a united Pakhtunkhwa province could not be realized. National Awami Party's manifesto's main point was abolishing the One-Unit and forming provinces based on linguistic basis. However, the leadrship of NAP did not insist on a united Pashtun province and agreed to the southern Pakhtunkhwa region being made a part of the Balochistan province. Khan Shaheed, realizing that his goal of a united pashtun province could not be achieved under the NAP leadership, decided to part ways with NAP and formed NAP-Pashtunkhwa on August 26, 1970. Khan Shaheed was elected to the Balochistan assembly in 1970. On December 2, 1973, he was martyred when hand grenades were thrown into his house in Quetta. He was 66 years old. He spent more than three decades of his life in British & Pakistani prisons.
The military imposed the martial law again in 1977. NAP-Pashtunkhwa, under its young leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, from the day one stood against the military dictatorship and for restoration of democracy. NAP-Pashtunkhwa was instrumental in gathering all the democratic political parties of the country in karachi to lay the foundations of the Movement for the restoration of democracy (MRD). The MRD started its struggle against the military dictatorship and as one its first activities, the party took out a peaceful protest from the Kandahari Mosque in Quetta on October 7, 1983. The Military administration opened fire on the peaceful protestors. Four party workers were martyred and dozens injured in addition to hundreds of arrests. The party's chairman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai was named in the FIRs for the death of his own workers by this draconian regime. From early 80's to the end of the decade, the party developed an alliance with Pakhtunkhwa Mazdoor Kissan party which resulted in the formation of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami party in 1989 with Mahmood Khan Achakzai elected as its first chairman.
From its formation in 1989 until now, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has been at the forefront of all the movements, alliances and struggles launched to consolidate democracy, provincial autonomy and to oppose martial laws & military's role in politics. Whether it was the alliance for the restoration of democracy (ARD), Pakistan oppressed nations movement (PONM), Charter of democracy (COD), All Parties Democratic movement (APDM), Pakhtunkhwa national democratic alliance (PNDA) or Pakistan democratic movement (PDM), PMAP has been at the forefront of the efforts to establish and then make these alliances work.PMAP was the only political party which unconditionally opposed the martial law imposed by the military in October 1999. During all this struggle, PMAP has given sacrifices in the form of martyrdom of its workers and leaders in 1983, 1991 & 2003 as well as countless cases of arrests, tortures and violations of human rights of our workers and leaders.
Alongwith the democratic struggle for our principles, PMAP has been wholeheartedly taking part in the electoral politics of the country. From 1990 to 2018, PMAP has managed to send our members to the National assembly, Senate and the provincial assembly of Balochistan province. Our members of parliament have performed a stellar role in the parliament during every legislation and have been the guardians of Pashtun rights in the parliament. Our Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has been elected to the national assembly three times and is considered one of the strongest democratic voices inside and outside the parliament. Our former Senior deputy chairman, Late Abdul Rahim Mandokhail was instrumental in the passage of the 18th amendment as part of the committee which drafted the historical amendment. Electorally, PMAP achieved its best results in the 2013 elections when it was successful in sending four members to the national assembly and won 10 out of the 22 provincial assembly seats for the Pashtun districts of Balochistan.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party held its historical seventh national congress at Quetta, Southern Pakhtunkhwa on 19, 20 and 21st December 2022. More than 10,000 delegates from all over Pakhtunkhwa watan and the whole country attended this historic national congress and new national and provincial organisations were elected to herald the party into the future. Mahmood Khan Achakzai was re-elected the chairman of the party.
The northern districts of the current so called "Balochistan province" are overwhelmingly Pashtun majority districts. The Pashtuns are a distinct people from the other major nationality of the province i.e. the Baloch & share the same language, culture and history with the geographically contiguous Pakhtunkhwa province in the north. These Pashtun areas were annexed from Afghanistan in the 19th century after the second Anglo-Afghan war & have been made part of the current Balochistan province only after 1970. A more just solution to this issue would have been to merge these areas into the then Pashtun N.W.F.P. province or to restore the earlier Pashtun majority Chief commissioner province which consisted mainly of these Pashtun areas alongwith a couple of Baloch districts before the infamous & draconian One-Unit scheme aboished it in 1956.
Pashtuns- a distinct people from the Baloch - form the overwhelming majority of the northern districts of the so called "Balochistan province". They share their language, culture & history with their co-ethnics in the geogrpahically contiguous Pakhtunkhwa province in the north instead of the Baloch. These "Pashtuns of balochistan" have never lived in the same administrative unit with the Baloch people before the current province was unjustly imposed upon them in 1970.
PMAP believes that all political power should emanate from the will and consent of the people. We believe in democratic and representative self-government by the people, supremacy of the constitution and the elected Parliament, separation of powers and the rule of law. We totally condemn and reject martial laws, abrogation of the constitution or any other such ultra-constitutional measures.
PMAP believes that Pashto is the national language of the Pashtun nation. Therefore, we demand that Pashto be made the legal, administrative and language of commerce of Pakhtunkhwa. We demand the recognition and development of all the languages that are spoken in Pakhtunkhwa. We also demand that Pashto be recognized as one of the national languages of Pakistan and be given constitutional protections and safeguards.
PMAP believes in a peaceful and harmonious society that embraces religious plurality and diversity. PMAP rejects terrorism, extremism and violence against religious minorities. PMAP takes its inspiration from the long tradition of peaceful and harmonious coexistence between religious communities in Pakhtunkwha.
PMAP considers Afghanistan to be the historic homeland of all Afghans including Pashtuns. Therefore, PMAP strongly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Afghanistan. PMAP condemns any external interference in the internal political affairs of Afghanistan.
PMAP considers Pakistan to be a federal state of five equal nations. Therefore, PMAP demands that Pakistan’s social contract should be federal and parliamentary with full political, cultural and economic autonomy for the federating units where each federating unit represents the homeland of one participating nation.
The natural resources of a nation are vital and essential for the economic development and prosperity of a nation. Therefore, PMAP demands that the natural resources of Pakhtunkhwa, from electricity to minerals to water, should be under the democratic control of Pakhtunkhwa and be used for the everyday needs and economic prosperity of its people.
PMAP believes in eradicating all oppression based on class and economic exploitation. PMAP considers the natural resources to be the right of all of the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP supports a minimum wage, redistribution of profits, a social safety net, right to housing, right to education and right to employment to be recognized on both provincial and federal levels.
PMAP supports and advocates a foreign policy based on peaceful co-existence and non-interference. PMAP supports a foreign policy that prioritizes economic development, trade linkages and raising the standard of living of all the people of the region.
PMAP believes that Pakhtunkhwa is the ancestral and historic homeland of all the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP’s struggle is centered on the realization of the political, economic, social and cultural rights of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP demands a united and autonomous Pakhtunkhwa province from Chitral to Bolan.
PMAP strongly believes in human rights, political freedoms and civil liberties for all the people of the country. We believe in constitutional safeguards and actual realization of all the basic and fundamental rights of citizens according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties and instruments.
PMAP believes that all political power should emanate from the will and consent of the people. We believe in democratic and representative self-government by the people, supremacy of the constitution and the elected Parliament, separation of powers and the rule of law. We totally condemn and reject martial laws, abrogation of the constitution or any other such ultra-constitutional measures.
PMAP considers Pakistan to be a federal state of five equal nations. Therefore, PMAP demands that Pakistan’s social contract should be federal and parliamentary with full political, cultural and economic autonomy for the federating units where each federating unit represents the homeland of one participating nation.
The natural resources of a nation are vital and essential for the economic development and prosperity of a nation. Therefore, PMAP demands that the natural resources of Pakhtunkhwa, from electricity to minerals to water, should be under the democratic control of Pakhtunkhwa and be used for the everyday needs and economic prosperity of its people.
PMAP believes in a peaceful and harmonious society that embraces religious plurality and diversity. PMAP rejects terrorism, extremism and violence against religious minorities. PMAP takes its inspiration from the long tradition of peaceful and harmonious coexistence between religious communities in Pakhtunkwha.
PMAP believes that Pakhtunkhwa is the ancestral and historic homeland of all the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP’s struggle is centered on the realization of the political, economic, social and cultural rights of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP demands a united and autonomous Pakhtunkhwa province from Chitral to Bolan.
PMAP believes that Pashto is the national language of the Pashtun nation. Therefore, we demand that Pashto be made the legal, administrative and language of commerce of Pakhtunkhwa. We demand the recognition and development of all the languages that are spoken in Pakhtunkhwa. We also demand that Pashto be recognized as one of the national languages of Pakistan and be given constitutional protections and safeguards.
PMAP strongly believes in human rights, political freedoms and civil liberties for all the people of the country. We believe in constitutional safeguards and actual realization of all the basic and fundamental rights of citizens according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties and instruments.
PMAP believes in eradicating all oppression based on class and economic exploitation. PMAP considers the natural resources to be the right of all of the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP supports a minimum wage, redistribution of profits, a social safety net, right to housing, right to education and right to employment to be recognized on both provincial and federal levels.
PMAP considers Afghanistan to be the historic homeland of all Afghans including Pashtuns. Therefore, PMAP strongly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Afghanistan. PMAP condemns any external interference in the internal political affairs of Afghanistan.
PMAP supports and advocates a foreign policy based on peaceful co-existence and non-interference. PMAP supports a foreign policy that prioritizes economic development, trade linkages and raising the standard of living of all the people of the region.
PMAP believes that Pakhtunkhwa is the ancestral and historic homeland of all the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP’s struggle is centered on the realization of the political, economic, social and cultural rights of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP demands a united and autonomous Pakhtunkhwa province from Chitral to Bolan.
PMAP believes that all political power should emanate from the will and consent of the people. We believe in democratic and representative self-government by the people, supremacy of the constitution and the elected Parliament, separation of powers and the rule of law. We totally condemn and reject martial laws, abrogation of the constitution or any other such ultra-constitutional measures.
PMAP considers Pakistan to be a federal state of five equal nations. Therefore, PMAP demands that Pakistan’s social contract should be federal and parliamentary with full political, cultural and economic autonomy for the federating units where each federating unit represents the homeland of one participating nation.
The natural resources of a nation are vital and essential for the economic development and prosperity of a nation. Therefore, PMAP demands that the natural resources of Pakhtunkhwa, from electricity to minerals to water, should be under the democratic control of Pakhtunkhwa and be used for the everyday needs and economic prosperity of its people.
PMAP believes that Pashto is the national language of the Pashtun nation. Therefore, we demand that Pashto be made the legal, administrative and language of commerce of Pakhtunkhwa. We demand the recognition and development of all the languages that are spoken in Pakhtunkhwa. We also demand that Pashto be recognized as one of the national languages of Pakistan and be given constitutional protections and safeguards.
PMAP strongly believes in human rights, political freedoms and civil liberties for all the people of the country. We believe in constitutional safeguards and actual realization of all the basic and fundamental rights of citizens according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties and instruments.
PMAP believes in eradicating all oppression based on class and economic exploitation. PMAP considers the natural resources to be the right of all of the people of Pakhtunkhwa. PMAP supports a minimum wage, redistribution of profits, a social safety net, right to housing, right to education and right to employment to be recognized on both provincial and federal levels.
PMAP believes in a peaceful and harmonious society that embraces religious plurality and diversity. PMAP rejects terrorism, extremism and violence against religious minorities. PMAP takes its inspiration from the long tradition of peaceful and harmonious coexistence between religious communities in Pakhtunkwha.
PMAP considers Afghanistan to be the historic homeland of all Afghans including Pashtuns. Therefore, PMAP strongly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Afghanistan. PMAP condemns any external interference in the internal political affairs of Afghanistan.
PMAP supports and advocates a foreign policy based on peaceful co-existence and non-interference. PMAP supports a foreign policy that prioritizes economic development, trade linkages and raising the standard of living of all the people of the region.
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