Agreeing To Disagree: Sherpao distances QWP from Imran Khan’s statement

PESHAWAR:

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao distanced his party from Imran Khan’s statement regarding the Taliban opening an office in Pakistan terming it Khan’s personal view.

Addressing a news conference at the party’s Central Secretariat in Watan Kor, Hayatabad on Saturday, Sherpao said Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif should start implementing the plans for the restoration of peace since leaders of all political parties empowered him to do so in the all-parties conference (APC).

“The delay in the dialogue process can further compound problems. The recent terrorist acts have dealt a blow to any development,” he added. Sherpao lamented the PM was yet to visit Peshawar after the recent blasts. He also expressed grave concern over the law and order in the suburbs of the city.

The QWP leader further said the federal government should help the provincial government in reconstructing the damaged infrastructure of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Sherpao said the federal government should avoid increasing prices of petroleum products and other items of daily use as that would create more problems for the people with lesser incomes.

“All political parties should join hands to make efforts for the restoration of peace in the country,” said Sherpao, adding over 52,000 people had been killed and hundreds of others injured in terrorism acts in K-P over the past several years.

The QWP leader expressed sorrow over the recent terrorist attacks in Peshawar and underscored the need for improving gathering of intelligence to avert such incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2013.