In protest: K-P govt to march towards US Consulate in Peshawar

PPP MPA says her party will not become a part of any move that can derail the democratic process.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government will protest in Islamabad and Peshawar with all members of the coalition government, the modalities of which will be finalised today. A cabinet committee has been tasked to draft a letter of protest and also reach out to the other political parties, members of the committee told The Express Tribune.

Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan claimed coalition partners including ministers, assistants, special assistants and MPAs will march towards the US Consulate in Peshawar on Monday (today).



He said they will present a memorandum to the consulate staff which has been drafted. “Contacts with other parties on this issue are also underway by the information minister Shah Farman,” he added. Khan said that if the chief minister did not lead the march, the provincial ministers will lead it jointly. He said that the same march will also be held in Islamabad towards the US Embassy. He said the coalition government invites all the parties to join hands for the national cause. “We will devise further line of action after presenting the memorandum in the US Consulate Peshawar for a march towards the US Embassy in Islamabad,” he added.

Minister for IT and Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai said two meetings of the committees formed by the cabinet were held and a final meeting will be held on Monday before sending a letter to the consulate, US Embassy Islamabad, United Nations, Prime Minister, and National Assembly speaker. In this regard, a three-member committee was formed, including  Minister for Information Shah Farman, Inayatullah Khan and minister for IT. The committee is expected to be led by chief minister Pervez Khattak.

Advisor to CM Shiraz Paracha said the government will go all out to lodge a peaceful protest on international and national levels. Paracha added the protests were not violent; a clear example of civilized democracy.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Nighat Orakzai told The Express Tribune their party will not become a part of any move that can derail the democratic process and their party wants them to continue. “PPP will not become a part of any undemocratic move and it will play a positive role in opposition,” she added.

She termed the protest plan by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government as unwise saying the protests were affecting business activities. Orakzai said it’s the federal government responsibility to stop the supply, adding the chief ministers and MPAs of PTI should also have participated in the sit-in on Saturday where all of PTI’s central leadership was present.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.