Alienated: Issues of Pakhtuns remain ignored, says Sherpao

QWP chief says sense of deprivation among Pakhtuns could weaken the federation

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said on Friday that the sense of deprivation among Pakhtuns is increasing day by day and that this was harmful to the federation.

He said this while addressing a large public meeting at Mathra Peshawar, wherein part’s provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and party provincial general secretary Hashim Baber were also present.

He regretted that people sitting in Islamabad did not realise the extent of the problems and miseries faced by Pakhtuns and that is why they were attending to other issues and agonies of Pakhtuns were left unattended. He said that some elements are trying to reverse the 18th amendment in the constitution as saying that the provinces are lacking potential, though the argument is baseless. He said that the provinces should be given autonomy as accordance with the true spirit of the constitution. He said that it is the duty of the federal government to ensure the rights of Pakhtuns in the country.

He said that QWP demanded the earlier merger of Fata-K-P but unfortunately the people in the power were not heeding to it and this issue was put on the backburner.



He said that in past some elements had been followed by foreign agendas due to which Pakistan in general and Pakhtun in particular suffered day by day. He said that we should be cautious by following foreign agendas and should have to be focused on the problems of our people.

He said that PTI government had not been paying attention to the problems of people as it was busy in the negative politics which created problems for the people of K-P. He deplored that the federal and provincial government had ignored Pakhtuns due to which now they are in the grip of uncertainty.

He sighted that the developmental projects on which the precious public money had been wasted. He said that Bus Transit Project which has belatedly been started as it has multiplied the public agonies. He said that the PTI change sloganeering was only limited to social media while on grounds no change could be seen in the province.

Sherpao regretted that the provincial government boasted over reforms in the in the institutions of province police, health and education for political scoring but unfortunately the situation is far worsened while the government was oblique to his stand, which appears that the rulers were living in the fool’s paradise.

He said that the gory affairs had exposed the credentials of the government and serious situation of misgovernance had been sacked by them. He said that the trillion trees project which is only present on papers but actually there is nothing on grounds. Bus Transit Project which has belatedly been started as it has multiplied the public agonies.

“Our stance is very clear,” he said, adding that his party insisted for the rights of its people who had rendered enormous sacrifices but unfortunately they had been left in an occur despair. He said that foundation of the QWP was of the sole purpose to safeguard the rights of Pakhtuns in the country and it would stand firmly with them.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2018.