The purpose of this manifesto is to inform the public about the goals and intentions of the Awami National Party (ANP) so that voters in the upcoming general election will know clearly what the party stands for. The manifesto is not intended to be a detailed program of action. It only attempts to describe the spirit that motivates the party and the general principles that will guide its policies should it be called upon to serve the people of Pakistan and the Pukhtunkhwa in particular, individually or in conjunction with others.
The manifesto is divided into the following parts:
the introduction
internal affairs
.1. Political, legal and administrative
2.2. Socioeconomic
23. Rights and empowerment of women
- external relations
- Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
THE INTRODUCTION
The Awami National Party is inspired by the example and teachings of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, affectionately called Baacha Khan by his people. He spent his whole life fighting for freedom and justice. he is hisKhudai KhidmatgarHe made great sacrifices in the fight against colonialism, imperialism and all other forms of oppression. More broadly, Baacha Khan viewed politics as the highest form of public service and often referred to himself as a humble social worker. His goal was to liberate the masses of South Asia, and in particular his own people, the Pukhtun, from the chains of ignorance and poverty so that they could reach their full potential.
In this sense, the ANP, like its predecessors NAP (National Awami Party) and NDP (National Democratic Party), views politics primarily as a public service, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged. Therefore, the party is dedicated to promoting democracy and freedom, eradicating poverty, upholding human rights, countering extremism in all its forms and creating equal opportunities for all citizens. He firmly believes in peace and non-violence as the best way to solve all problems. It pledges to guarantee all federal entities in Pakistan their full political, social and economic rights as equal partners in the federation and their fair share in national progress and prosperity.
In pursuing these goals, the PNA stands ready to work with like-minded forces in Pakistan and to sign alliances with any peace-loving country in the world.
INTERNAL MATTERS
2.1 Political, Legal and Administrative
The ANP strives to establish a peaceful, prosperous, progressive and liberal society based on the following principles:
- democracy and rule of law.
- Protection of the rights and identities of the people of all provinces of Pakistan and unrestricted freedom for the development of their cultures and languages. The so-called North-West Frontier Province would be renamed Pakhtunkhwa in accordance with the aspirations of the people and the decisions of the Provincial Assembly.
- No discrimination based on race, creed or gender. All citizens of Pakistan will have equal rights in the political, economic and social spheres. Every citizen will have the right to hold any public office and all discriminatory laws will be repealed. The essence of security among religious and ethnic minorities is guaranteed.
- Freedom of association and opinion as well as freedom of the press must be guaranteed.
- Full provincial autonomy, with center maintaining control of defense, foreign affairs, currency (Communications and other matters agreed upon by the federated entities.
- The ANP will emphasize maintaining public order to protect citizens' safety, which has been under serious threat lately.
- Defense spending must be reduced to a level that does not endanger people's economic and social well-being. In addition, the services of the trained armed forces personnel such as doctors, teachers, engineers, specialists and semi-skilled workers should be used productively if necessary and rendered for the benefit of the public.
- Non-interference in the policies of the armed forces and civil bureaucracy is guaranteed by appropriate legislative and administrative measures.
- The federal legislature will remain bicameral, as it is today, but the Senate's powers will be expanded to include initiating bills and approving senior appointments.
- Administrative and judicial reforms should aim to create systems that meet the needs of a democratic society, but also provide security for citizens, expedited justice and an honest, efficient and impartial service.
- The federal officials assigned to the state are appointed with the approval of the state government. The provincial government will have full control over all officials working in the province. Efforts are being made at the center to get the province its share of appointments at all levels.
- The judiciary should be separate from the executive unless executive judges have non-judicial functions. The judiciary will have full financial autonomy.
- Parallel legal and quasi-legal systems will be abolished to ensure a unified and integrated judicial system in the country.
- Effective legislation must be passed to stop horse trading and the sale of loyalties among elected officials.
- (Federal units wishing to reorganize based on cultural, linguistic, and geographic similarities may do so.)
- A comprehensive package of economic, social and legal measures is proposed to protect the interests of workers and the working class.
- Efforts should be made to narrow the pay gap between the highest and lowest paid civil servants to an ideal ratio of 5:1, and salaries should be linked to the cost of living.ss
- Re-employment of retired civil servants is generally not permitted. If necessary in the public interest, the reasons must be stated and justified in writing.
- The benefits, subsidies and privileges accorded to the former rulers of states, their dependents or other special classes of citizens shall be abolished.
- The elimination of bribery and corruption, bootlegging, smuggling and other social wrongs must be given top priority and a permanent and independent body to enforce accountability must be established.'
- The privacy of citizens in internal affairs and in communications must be guaranteed. Wiretapping, censorship and entering private facilities without legal permission are prohibited.
2.2. Socioeconomic
The main task of the state is to enable people to have a better life. Political rights and freedoms must go hand in hand with advances in the social and economic spheres. Poverty, disease and illiteracy must be eliminated and social justice guaranteed. To this end, the ANP will look for socio-economic guidelines in the following guidelines:
tax problems
- The ANP will ensure that the Common Interests Council's 1991 decision on accumulated hydraulic gains in the province is implemented in word and spirit.
- New oil and gas discoveries have been made in Pukhtunkhwa, so new royalties are being negotiated to generate more resources for the province's development. Pakhtunkhwa-based Gungari North Western Gas Company is formed on the SSGPL and SNGPL lines.
- The province's resources were reduced when the federal government withdrew taxes on canton property from the province without taking responsibility for providing infrastructure and services and maintaining law and order. The federal government is obliged to pay for these services.
- The federation abolished the octroi taxes with a promise to pay 2.5% of sales tax revenue to local governments. Therefore, the province lost its right to sales tax. As such, she will seek compensation under the new National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
- Many large organizations such as the National Highway Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority and others have been removed from the purview of the National Economic Council. The result was that fairness in the distribution of funds and projects could no longer be maintained. The ANP will try to create national forums to guarantee equality in this regard.
- The devastation of the Afghan wars and the presence of Afghan refugees for more than two decades have damaged all of Pukhtunkhwa's infrastructure and natural resources. The ANP will seek additional resources to offset these setbacks.
development problems
Economic structure of the provincial economy
- The ANP will shift the focus from public sector development to a market approach and involve the private sector in the overall process of economic development in the province. At the same time, it will try to ensure safety nets for low-income groups.
- The ANP will promote and protect foreign investment and provide special incentives in this regard.
- The ANP proposes that the concept of rebuilding Zones of Opportunity (RON) be implemented by the provincial governments so that the maximum benefits remain in the provinces.
Agriculture
- Agriculture accounts for 25% of Pukhtunkhwa's GDP. 47% of the provincial workforce is employed in this sector and 70% of the population makes a living from agriculture. Therefore, agricultural development will be a top priority. Similar initiatives are also being carried out in other provinces.
- Livestock farming is one of the main contributors to this sector, accounting for 12% of the province's GDP. The ANP will pay particular attention to this sector because of its major impact on poverty reduction and growth.
- Poultry farming has developed positively in Hazara. Likewise, the sale of dairy products and live animals for urban consumption is an additional source of income for the farmer. The ANP will take action to develop this force.
- In Pukhtunkhwa, around 2.1 million hectares of grassland are available for livestock and agriculture, and this potential must be harnessed to the benefit of farmers. The same will happen in other provinces.
- There is great potential for agricultural diversification towards high value cash crops such as fruits, vegetables and flowers and edible oilseeds such as olives. Incentives are given to grow them commercially.
- In order to develop the forests, extensive renovation works are being carried out as Pukhtunkhwa accounts for 40% of Pakistan's forest area.
- Pukhtunkhwa produces 49.8% of Pakistan's corn and 71.9% of tobacco. Downstream industries based on these products will develop.
- The ANP will take measures to provincialize the tobacco tax.
Work
- The lack of meaningful jobs is one of the main causes of radicalization in Pakhtunkhwa. When young people cannot find work, they lose hope and many turn to drugs and extremism. This cycle is broken with the setting of employment targets for each year. All projects and programs must be guided by this priority.
- Linked to this approach will be the reform of the education system so that qualification and vocational training can start at an early stage.
- Particular attention is paid to the problem of the educated unemployed. Facilities such as internships, placement agencies and counseling organizations are provided to help them find work. Self-employment projects would also be prioritised.
Industrial development
- Large-scale industrial development in the province has been minimal and the ANP will accelerate it. Due to the recent discoveries in the province, investments are mainly encouraged in the oil and gas based industry.
- Pukhtunkhwa has only 4.5% of the country's small and medium-sized industry, which is a small percentage compared to its population. Corrective measures are being taken to ensure that the province receives its share of the investments in this sector.
- There is a wide spectrum in the quarrying and polishing of marble, the processing of precious stones and minerals. The ANP will encourage investments in these sectors.
- Particular attention is paid to the food processing industry in order to increase the income of fruit and vegetable producers.
banks and investments
- The ANP believes that financial services can play an important role in creating infrastructure for the province's growth. New tools are being developed to help improve livelihoods through business development and dedicated microcredit programs.
- The ANP will continue to give the province a higher credit percentage. The province accounts for about 11% of total bank deposits, but only 4% of loans are disbursed in Pukhtunkhwa. This inequality is corrected.
urban development
- The ANP will carry out urban regeneration through investments in public services, modern communications, infrastructure, sanitation and waste management, urban roads, public transport systems, and affordable and accessible housing.
Training
- The state is obliged to provide free education up to primary school and beyond at an affordable cost.
- The ANP aims to allocate at least 6% of GDP to education.
- The ANP will work to eliminate the dual education system that protects and upholds class and feudal interests. It only works for a system that conforms to international standards.
- The ANP ensures that the teaching materials at the elementary level are in the mother tongue.
Health
- The ANP will endeavor to provide health services to all citizens. In this context, various options are being considered, including insurance plans, privatizations, etc. The ANP aims to allocate at least 6% of GDP to health.
- Health services are being decentralized to bring them to the door.
- The ANP will focus on maternal and child care, provision of clean water and preventionMedicine.
Surroundings
- The ANP will attach particular importance to environmental protection. Our wealth lies in our natural resources such as forests, rivers, etc. Indiscriminate deforestation and river pollution are strictly controlled. In addition, the problem of air pollution and the disposal of industrial waste is urgently addressed.
regional trade
- The ANP believes the natural market for Pukhtunkhwa is Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics. All measures are taken to develop bilateral and multilateral trade relations with them.
- The ANP welcomes the concept of reconstructing Opportunity Zones (RON) and anticipates implementation in the short term as it will boost regional trade.
Hydel generation and irrigation
- The ANP will continue to develop federal and provincial irrigation projects to utilize the approximately 2 MAF waters still available for development.
- The ANP will continue to oppose projects that do not bring economic benefits to the province's people and endanger their livelihoods, land and environment.
- The ANP will seek to make power a provincial affair, as it was in the pre-unity era.
- The energy is sold by WAPDA at a price well in excess of the cost of production. This affects the comparative advantage of the province, which is a major hydropower producer. The distribution of electrical energy must remain in the hands of the province.
- The ANP will encourage investment in hydropower projects in small stretches of the river.
2.3 Rights and empowerment of women
Pakistani women are trapped in a web of dependency and subordination due to their low social, economic and political status. The majority of women suffer from all forms of poverty, discrimination and violence. There are inherent structural barriers that prevent and discourage women from participating in the decision-making process and this perpetuates their disadvantaged status. While Pakistan has made national and international commitments to guarantee women's rights, there is a large gap between commitment and implementation.
The ANP is committed to gender equality. In the light of its vision, constitution and policies, the party will work to ensure the rights and empowerment of women by:
Participation of women in decision-making processes
The party will endeavor to:
- Repeal all discriminatory laws and policies that violate women's equal rights and their participation in decision-making within the family, community and society.
- Enact laws against domestic violence, honor killings and trafficking in women, sexual harassment and assault.
- Compliance with existing international conventions/instruments ratified by Pakistan that address violence against women and ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant instruments relating to trafficking in women and children and violence against women.
- Ensuring a minimum quota of 33% for women at all levels of political, political and decision-making positions and providing significant and necessary technical and financial support for their participation.
- Ensure direct elections for women in all elected positions, including reserved seats/quotas, as the party believes there is no substitute for direct elections.
- Ensure that no federally mandated and enacted laws, regulations, policies and codes of conduct exclude and/or discriminate against women.
- Review and revise identification policies to ensure citizens are identified by relationship and not by spouse so that their national identity documents are not altered with a change in marital status. Eliminate the need for adult women to have a male guardian when applying for national identity documents.
- Awareness of the importance of gender equality is raised through education and the media.
- The ANP will work to improve access to employment opportunities for women at all levels.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Pakistan owes its importance in the world to a number of factors, not all of which are of its own accord. Its geostrategic location is often described as primary, but it's actually a double-edged blessing. Pakistan borders four countries, each of which has played or plays a significant role in international affairs. These countries are China, India, Iran and Afghanistan. Pakistan's proximity to these states makes it a useful tool for powerful countries to exploit for their own global interests, and while this can be beneficial, it can also pose a threat to the country's independence and freedom of action. In addition, Pakistan is the only nuclear power in the Islamic world. Given the current tensions in the world, this nuclear capacity could pose a serious threat to the security of the country instead of ensuring that security, which was the main reason for choosing nuclear energy. The country's foreign policy must therefore be aimed at preventing these dangers while at the same time serving to promote national interests in terms of economic and commercial progress. With this in mind, the ANP will work towards a foreign policy that includes the following elements:
- Friendly and peaceful relations with all countries, especially with neighbors.
- Compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and full participation in all of its development and peacekeeping activities. Pakistan should also participate in the work of other international organizations to which it belongs. In particular, it must actively participate in international efforts to promote a just international order. It must also support international movements for arms reduction and nuclear abolition in a universal and non-discriminatory manner.
- Promoting the concept of a multipolar world that would avoid the universal dominance of one or two major powers.
- Using diplomacy as a tool to advance the country's economic and commercial interests, diversify its market and attract foreign investment.
- Particular attention should be paid to relations with Afghanistan. Given the similarities in culture, belief, language and history between the people of Pukhtunkhwa and those of Afghanistan, a determined effort must be made to promote cooperation in all areas, including economics, trade, education and culture. Bilateral relations must be strictly conducted on the basis of sovereign equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
- High priority is also given to establishing peaceful and cooperative good neighborly relations with India. All issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, will be resolved through peaceful negotiations, and open dialogue will become the hallmark of bilateral relations.
- The traditionally close relationship with China will be maintained and expanded.
- Relations with all countries will be governed by the principles of sovereign equality and no external pressure, whether overt or covert, will be able to influence Pakistan's policies and actions, which are based solely on national interests.
- Relations with the United States will be cordial because Pakistan has much to gain from them. These relationships are characterized by dignity and self-respect and are intended to be mutually beneficial.
- For the same reasons, relations with the European Union are being deepened.
- Pakistan will play a leading and constructive role in organizing the Islamic Conference, SAARC and ECO.
- Our missions abroad will pay special attention to the problems of Pakistani expatriates, especially in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, where there are many Pukhtun workers.
- Pakistan will encourage the search for political solutions to political problems rather than the use of force.
FEDERAL TRIBAL AREAS
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have an area of 27,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 4 million. This region is administered by the President in accordance with Articles 246 and 247 of the Constitution. Pakistan's laws are unenforceable, the jurisdiction of the higher courts has not been expanded and people do not enjoy the basic rights guaranteed by the constitution.
The tribes continue to suffer from poverty and the lowest social standards in the country. The literacy rate is only 17% compared to the national average of 45%. Female literacy is a pitiful 3% compared to 32% in the rest of the country.
Since 1979, the region has suffered the most severe displacements due to the conditions in Afghanistan. Extremist elements have taken refuge in parts of FATA and unfortunately managed to overwhelm the tribes in some areas. Development work has all but ceased, management has collapsed, and the Jirga's normal method of mediation is not being used properly.
The ANP proposes the following actions to reverse the current dangerous trends.
political changes
To end the tribesmen's underdevelopment and violent nightmare, the government must make an early decision to merge these areas with Pukhtunkhwa under special provisions that will ensure this;
- The federal government is urged to make an early decision to merge these areas with Pukhtunkhwa. If necessary, special precautions are taken to ensure that any legal and administrative changes introduced respect tribal traditions and cultures.
- Tribal areas will have provincial assembly seats and the total number of seats will increase proportionately.
- As an immediate measure, the FCR will be amended to ensure the protection of human rights enshrined in the Constitution. Other provisions of the FCR are also being amended to allow oversight by a special tribal court of the Peshawar High Court.
- The party law is extended to the FATA.
- Fully empowered local bodies were to be set up, with some modifications, to give meaningful participation to tribal members in all their affairs.
development reforms
The ANP proposes the following actions for immediate implementation if we want to achieve a peaceful and positive change in the FATA.
- In the absence of reliable statistics, a detailed study and investigation of the development potential of the area is essential.
- Pakistan agreed to participate in the creation of "reconstruction and opportunity zones" in tribal areas, NWFP and Afghanistan that would be tied to market shares. The ANP will work towards transparent and effective implementation.
- The ANP supports the development principles outlined in the FATA Sustainable Development Plan, but proposes more active implementation through empowering local communities.
- In general, the ANP will follow the same development strategy for the FATA and for the province, although in some cases the FATA may require special treatment due to their extreme poverty and low rates.