Forget Panama: Sherpao urges Centre to regain focus

Says smaller provinces are suffering as attention diverted elsewhere

PESHAWAR: The Panama leaks have diverted the government’s attention from important matters and the ruling and opposition parties must finalise terms of references (ToRs) for a commission to resolve the matter once  and for all.

This was said by Qaumi Watan Party Chairperson Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. He was speaking at a news conference at Watan Kor on Sunday.

Sherpao said the Panama Papers had created a state of political and economic inactivity in the country.

“It is indeed a massive issue for all as smaller provinces need proper attention from the federal government,”
he said.

During the conference, PML-N Shangla former president Haji Muhammad Zaman Khan, Haji Muhammad Khan, Haji Nasrullah and Muslim League Lawyer’s Forum President Advocate Majidullah joined QWP.

Sherpao said the tug of war between the federal and provincial governments had started from the very first day after the 2013 general election. He added the Centre should have not been biased towards the people of smaller provinces as it created a weak foundation for the federation.

Talking about Pak-Afghan ties, the QWP chief said the killing of a Taliban leader in Pakistan in a drone strike could create a negative impact on the upcoming Quadrilateral Coordination Group’s (QCG) meeting, which would be convened as mutually agreed. “To me, there is no hope from the QCG to pave the way for an Afghan peace settlement following the killing of Mullah Mansour,” Sherpao said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2016.