PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP), aligning with the views of Jammiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has expressed its rejection of the recently announced “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam,” aimed at addressing terrorism concerns.
ANP’s provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, in a press briefing on Monday, voiced significant reservations about the operation. He criticized the government for not sufficiently consulting political parties and civil society before launching the military initiative. Hussain highlighted the need for political stability, which he believes is crucial for overcoming the country’s ongoing crises.
Further addressing issues related to the recent elections, Hussain labeled the 2023 polls as “the most rigged ever,” claiming they featured more irregularities than those in 2018. He also commented on the latest budget, describing it as overly favorable to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and detrimental to the Pakistani populace, with significant tax increases and rising costs for fuel and electricity making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
Hussain emphasized that almost all political parties have opposed ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’ due to the lack of prior consultation, reflecting a broad discontent with the government’s approach to security and governance.
