Taking a stand: ‘No new resolution on Kalabagh Dam’
Even if the SC orders to go ahead with the project, we will not accept the decision, says ANP chief.
PESHAWAR:
Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said that no new resolution about the Kalabagh Dam would be brought to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the ANP chief said that three out of four provincial assemblies had passed resolutions against the dam earlier and termed it an anti-federation project.
He said that even if after all the resolutions the Supreme Court decides to construct the dam, they will not accept the decision, adding that the Lahore High Court (LHC) should not have ‘meddled’ with such issues. “Pakistan comprises of four units and Punjab should act as an ‘elder brother’ to the others to earn their respect.”
Upcoming elections
Talking about the 2013 elections, Asfandyar said that a caretaker setup should be expected by March as by then assemblies would have completed their tenure and elections would likely be held in April or May.
He said his party’s doors were open for everyone and that the ANP would be able to win in areas it had not won before. “So far,” he said, “we have fulfilled 99% of the electoral promises we made to our people.”
Asfandyar also spoke about the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and said the tribal belt has suffered the most in the war on terror and the people are desperate for more reforms. If the ANP comes to power it will introduce reforms in line with the tribesmens’ wishes, he added.
On negotiations with the Taliban, he said that militants will have to renounce their arms before any talks are held.
Karachi at stake
Speaking about Karachi, Asfandyar said that the situation in the country’s largest city was becoming more serious with each passing day. He said that security in the financial capital deteriorated after the South Waziristan operation and that he asked President Asif Ali Zardari to bring all major political forces on a single platform as it was the only way to resolve the conflict.
“Just as every Urdu speaker did not support the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), every Pakhtun does not support the ANP,” he said. Calling Karachi a ‘mini-Pakistan’, he said it was shocking how people were being killed daily.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2012.
Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said that no new resolution about the Kalabagh Dam would be brought to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the ANP chief said that three out of four provincial assemblies had passed resolutions against the dam earlier and termed it an anti-federation project.
He said that even if after all the resolutions the Supreme Court decides to construct the dam, they will not accept the decision, adding that the Lahore High Court (LHC) should not have ‘meddled’ with such issues. “Pakistan comprises of four units and Punjab should act as an ‘elder brother’ to the others to earn their respect.”
Upcoming elections
Talking about the 2013 elections, Asfandyar said that a caretaker setup should be expected by March as by then assemblies would have completed their tenure and elections would likely be held in April or May.
He said his party’s doors were open for everyone and that the ANP would be able to win in areas it had not won before. “So far,” he said, “we have fulfilled 99% of the electoral promises we made to our people.”
Asfandyar also spoke about the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and said the tribal belt has suffered the most in the war on terror and the people are desperate for more reforms. If the ANP comes to power it will introduce reforms in line with the tribesmens’ wishes, he added.
On negotiations with the Taliban, he said that militants will have to renounce their arms before any talks are held.
Karachi at stake
Speaking about Karachi, Asfandyar said that the situation in the country’s largest city was becoming more serious with each passing day. He said that security in the financial capital deteriorated after the South Waziristan operation and that he asked President Asif Ali Zardari to bring all major political forces on a single platform as it was the only way to resolve the conflict.
“Just as every Urdu speaker did not support the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), every Pakhtun does not support the ANP,” he said. Calling Karachi a ‘mini-Pakistan’, he said it was shocking how people were being killed daily.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2012.