Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Aimal Wali Khan announced his decision to forgive Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman, marking the resolution of a heated public dispute. The reconciliation, rooted in Pashtun traditions, ends weeks of tension sparked by a Senate committee clash.
The dispute began on May 21, 2025, during a Senate Functional Committee meeting, where Khan criticised Rehman’s handling of telecom infrastructure issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tensions escalated when Rehman allegedly made an inappropriate remark, accusing Khan of smoking charas (hashish), prompting Khan to file a privilege motion.
The bitter exchange between PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman and Senator Aimal Wali Khan in the standing committee today is the result of old family feuds, reliable sources have confirmed. @AimalWali pic.twitter.com/vhodTmzZJm
— Javed Hussain (@javedstringer) May 21, 2025On May 26, Rehman visited Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar, accompanied by a Pashtun jirga, to apologise. Khan accepted, stating, “The Chairman PTA came to me, and I now consider him my elder brother. We have resolved all grudges.” He confirmed he would withdraw the privilege motion, calling the incident a “mishap.”
Commendable of Chairman PTA to not only apologise on social media, but also go all the way to Bacha Khan Markaz to personally apologise to Aimal Wali Khan for the derogatory remarks. Personal attacks are never okay. One should keep it to only professional criticism. Never again. pic.twitter.com/Rko55yWhfP
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 26, 2025Khan emphasised Pashtun values of forgiveness, noting, “Our nation even forgives killers, reflecting our tradition.” The jirga-mediated resolution, a hallmark of Pashtun conflict resolution, underscores cultural respect over political differences. Rehman expressed regret, affirming his respect for Khan’s family and parliamentary decorum.
Political analyst Dr. Farooq Ahmed from the University of Peshawar notes, “This reconciliation showcases the strength of Pashtun traditions in resolving disputes, setting a positive precedent for political dialogue.”
The resolution fosters cooperation between ANP and federal institutions, critical as Khan, elected ANP Central President in May 2024, leads efforts to address Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s challenges.
