A noted Pashtun leader and chief of Awami National Party has alleged that Punjabi generals in Pakistan army were found spying for the United States and yet it is the Pashtuns, Sindhis, Balochs and Seraikis who are are treated badly in the country.
Asfandyar Wali Khan, recently led his party workers from the Rashakai Interchange, Nowshera, to Islamabad on Oct 31 for the anti-government protests called by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl.
Speaking to a local channel, Asfandyar said, "Some (Punjabi) generals were found spying for America. I assure you that we never engaged in spying against our country. But I am termed as 'dangerous' for the country. My father was kept in jail for 25 years who always called for "one man one vote". We were called anti-nationals but we never raised voice against the country."
The Pashtun leader said that a majority of personnel and officers in Pakistan Army come from Punjab province whereas only a few get recruited from Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"Pakistan cannot be prosperous till a poor Punjabi cannot be prosperous, a poor Baloch and Sindhi cannot be prosperous. Have you seen the life of a poor Punjabi. We say long live Pakistan Army but we know who earns the major share here," said Asfandyar.
He added, "We know the percentage of Sindhi, Baloch and Saraiki army men and generals. We don't want to raise this. Let us built this country. The way you are running this country, it is getting ruined and divided. Do have faith in us."
Asfandyar Wali Khan is credited for the provincial autonomy and the renaming of North-West Frontier Province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with support of coalition partner PPP during 18th amendment 2010.
( With inputs from ANI )