Stern rebuke: Sherpao criticises centre for neglecting K-P

Defends the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government’s performance.

PESHAWAR:

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has asked the central government to be more receptive to suggestions given by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) leadership on law and order.

Addressing a press conference in Hayatabad on Sunday, Sherpao said. “We have always asked the centre to listen to us. (Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif came here a few days ago for 2-3 hours but a few hours will not solve the issues (of law and order)”.

Urging all nationalist forces to join hands to address problems faced by Pukhtuns, he said security problems have resulted in the death of around 50,000 people and have led to countless economic worries for K-P since businesses have come to a halt in the region.



Sherpao defended the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government’s performance and said: “Corruption was a distinct characteristic of the previous (Awami National Party) government in the province which you will not find in the incumbent government.”

He said the current government is doing well on all fronts and is ready to take action against any corrupt practices that may surface.

Power troubles

Referring to State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali’s recent statements, Sherpao said it was lamentable to level power theft allegations against K-P since the province struggles to get its due hydel profit from the central government.

K-P produces power surplus but is not getting enough electricity to even meet its own requirements, he said, adding oil production in the province is almost half the total production of the country. This is the same for gas production.

Regional security

With respect to security in the region, Sherpao said presidential elections in Afghanistan will be held in April and at the end of 2014, US and ISAF forces will withdraw from the region.

He said the region will undergo a shift necessitating removal of differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “The efforts in this regard have been fruitful as I myself visited Afghanistan twice recently to discuss the issue,” he said and added “Afghanistan is an independent country and we want solutions to all problems with them on the basis of parity.”

“The Pak-Afghan Friendship forum has recently signed  a declaration, which will be presented in the National Assembly soon.” He added the declaration states “Neither country (Pakistan or Afghanistan) will allow their soil to be used against each other.”

Sherpao also welcomed Hashim Babar into the party. Babar in his short speech said it was his “political blunder” to join the PTI earlier. Babar said in the current situation, QWP was the only party that can serve the Pukhtuns well.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2013.