Haripur, Abbottabad annexation rejected

Assembly opposes alleged plan to merge two K-P's districts into Islamabad

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a strongly worded resolution rejecting any alleged proposal to detach Haripur and Abbottabad from the province and merge them into the federal capital Islamabad, while the provincial government separately decided to approach the federal authorities for legislation requiring doctors to prescribe medicines by generic formula rather than brand names and to make computerized prescriptions mandatory.

Provincial Minister Akbar Ayub moved the condemnation resolution, which the House passed without dissent. The resolution categorically rejected any proposal, plan or action by the federal government aimed at separating certain districts of K-P, particularly Haripur and Abbottabad, and incorporating them into the federal capital territory. It declared that every district of the province, including Haripur and Abbottabad, forms an inseparable part of K-P and cannot be detached under any circumstances.

The resolution asserted that any change in provincial boundaries, whether for administrative, political, economic reasons or to gain control over natural resources, would violate the rights of the people of the province, the federal system, provincial autonomy and constitutional principles. It underlined that the province's water resources, hydropower projects, minerals, forests and other natural assets are the constitutional entitlement of K-P and its people, and that any direct or indirect attempt to seize control over them is unacceptable.

The House demanded that the federal government immediately abandon all such proposals and fully respect the constitutional, geographical and administrative status of K-P.

The resolution appealed to all political parties, elected representatives, constitutional institutions, the legal fraternity, civil society, youth and the media to adopt a joint and unanimous stance in defence of the province's geographical unity, constitutional autonomy and public rights.

Earlier in the same sitting, PPP Member of the Provincial Assembly Mehr Sultana moved an adjournment motion highlighting the absence of any effective law or regulation compelling doctors to prescribe medicines by their generic formula instead of brand names, and the lack of any requirement for computerized prescriptions. She noted that handwritten prescriptions are frequently illegible, causing public distress, and urged the provincial government to introduce appropriate legislation or rules on both issues.