Sticking to its guns: K-P govt reiterates resolve to push centre for blocking NATO supplies

Says it will not hesitate to act on its own if federal govt fails to take steps by Nov 20.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtukhwa (K-P) government on Tuesday reiterated its resolve to act independently if the federal government takes no steps to block Nato supplies and drone attacks by November 20.

A day earlier, the K-P Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to push the centre to halt Nato supplies by the said date, maintaining the province would otherwise be free to pursue its own course of action.

“We need to build a consensus on this important national issue, as sovereignty and territorial integrity were completely ignored in carrying out drone attacks,” said K-P Minister for Information Shah Farman while briefing journalists about the provincial cabinet meeting at Officer’s Mess.



Replying to a question about the constitutional restrictions prohibiting the K-P government from stopping Nato supplies, Farman insisted, “If the federal government fails to forge national consensus on the issue by November 20, the K-P government will choose its own line of action.”

The minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has always taken a clear stance against drone attacks, and supported the move of blocking Nato supplies when the previous government took the decision following the US airstrike on Salala check post which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“We are raising the issue not for political point scoring, but because we want to take a unanimous decision after consulting all political parties,” said Farman, adding the ongoing war on terrorism has ravaged the province. “We don’t want any more bloodshed and seek durable peace in this region.”

The information minister went on to say blocking Nato supplies required unity on the part of all political parties to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country. “Peace would ultimately be restored after pressurising the US to end its prolonged drone campaign in the tribal region. Being an independent nation, we must take a firm stance.”

Talking about other decisions taken during the cabinet meeting held under the chair of the K-P chief minister, Farman said various programmes and welfare schemes were approved in education, health and industrial sectors.

He said a scheme worth Rs1 billion has been approved for free emergency services in teaching hospitals of the province. This included Rs25 million for the establishment of an insulin bank, Rs3 million for the provision of incentives for maternal health services, Rs200 million for immunisation and Rs3 million for treatment of critical illnesses.

In the education sector, he said a sum of Rs100 million has been approved. This includes an initiative wherein each female student will receive a stipend of Rs200. The move is aimed at increasing enrolment and improving female literacy rate.

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