CPEC’s western route: JI leads protest outside Governor House

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami threatened to march towards Islamabad if the federal government ignores the original China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan by leaving out Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

At Friday’s sit-in outside Governor House in the city, JI workers were led by provincial ameer Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. Senior minister Inayatullah Khan, Qaumi Watan Party Provincial President and Minister for Irrigation Sikandar Sherpao and leaders of other political parties were also present.

Mushtaq Ahmad demanded the western route be implemented and all maps, declarations, budgets and agreements be made public on the Planning Commission website. He said chief ministers of all provinces should be taken into confidence.

Mushtaq Ahmad criticised Ahsan Iqbal and said he was keeping the prime minister in the dark.

The provincial ameer of JI also demanded a committee of parliamentary leaders in the national assembly brief them about “the real plan”.

 He said if the reservations of K-P and Balochistan leaders are not addressed, Islamabad would see a flood of protesters.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2016.