A common adversary has brought the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) closer.
In an unprecedented move, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Information Shah Farman on Monday sought the support of JUI-S in halting Nato supplies after November 20 – the deadline set by the provincial government to push the centre to do the same.
In a meeting with JUI-S central deputy secretary Maulana Hamidul Haq and Ameer Maulana Sayed Muhammad Yousaf Shah at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Farman urged them to lend PTI support in order to put an end to US drone strikes. In response, the JUI-S leaders promised full support to the ruling party.
Leaders of the two parties have decided to soon hold a meeting to chalk out a plan for maintaining law and order and holding local government elections in the province.
Undeterred
K-P Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai maintains the party will use all its political muscle to halt Nato supplies.
“Our party’s strength extends from Karachi to Khyber. We can utilise this strength to halt Nato supplies not only from K-P, but also from Karachi,” Yousafzai said while speaking at the Peshawar Press Club during a ceremony held to distribute health insurance certificates.
Referring to the resolution passed to this effect in the K-P Assembly, he added they have given an ultimatum to the federal government to take all possible steps to block Nato supplies until US drone attacks stop.
Yousafzai said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had promised to take the nation out of its present state of chaos and restore peace, but nothing has been done to this end so far.
“Sharif’s visit to America was unsuccessful. He failed to represent the country and take a solid stand on the drone issue,” he said of the premier’s recent visit.
Yousafzai said some people believe PTI can lose their government in K-P if they take action against the will of the federal government. “But PTI is not worried about losing. We just want to fulfil our promises to the people.”
Denying rumours of differences within the coalition government, Yousafzai said PTI enjoys full support of Qaumi Watan Party and Jamaat-e-Islami over the issue.
Talking about the portfolio which he looks over, Yousafzai claimed the government is taking “revolutionary steps” to provide the best possible health facilities to everyone in the province.
“We will ensure hospitals in every city, including Chitral, Kohistan and DI Khan, provide equal services as those in the main hospitals of Peshawar,” he said, adding the government has hired 500 doctors, 600 nurses and 400 medical technicians in different hospitals.
Yousafzai also added commissioners in all districts have been directed to prepare a plan to bring the health system along modern lines.
“We had nothing when we came in the government. We had to prepare and plan everything from scratch,” said the health minister, adding it would take some time, but the fruit of their efforts would eventually trickle down to the public.
Around 350 journalists associated with Peshawar Press Club and Khyber Union of Journalists were awarded health insurance certificates at the distribution ceremony.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th,2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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@Jibran:
You might have a point in your comments about Imran Khan, but it is the failure of the Nawaz Sharif premiership and lack of action which is pushing Imran Khan, who according to your observation lacks political acumen, into the position of the leadership of the Nation. People require from the political leadership to create and gestalt the course for the Nation and not merely to administer the affairs as a beaurocrat.. No one can now stop Imran Khan from taking over the captaincy of the ship which is slowly sinking.
Rex Minor
@Hashim:
And what wrong is that -- IMF Funding, USA aid, military supplies? Last time Pakistan cut off NATO supplies it was a disaster - lets hope that someone in Pakistan has learned something from that mistake.
i also might not agree with JUI-S Maulana Samiul Haq in alot of things but he is against drones and wants to block nato supplies. Maulana Samiul Haq giving a moral support to kpk government
Both are protégés of the same "agency". Two sides oft he same coin!
I doubt Taliban Khan or Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami has a clue that most of NATO supplies are delivered through Balochistan - not K-P. Not surprising as rumor has it that when Khan was briefed on Taliban by military he was surprised to find that Taliban has multiple factions which significantly impairs ability to negotiate agreement and why no Taliban agreement has ever been honored. Like most politicians Taliban Khan spends most of his time making speeches rather than reading/learning.
Maulana Sami-ul-Haq is yet another tout of some section of military establishment which from time launches one of its joker assets to create political instability. BTW, whatever happened to the Difa-e-Pakistan Council?
mr Adnan Siddiqi wait till 20th November if they don,t do it then criticize kpk Govt
Finally PTI is reversing a terrible terrible wrong.
Lets hope they dont sell out like everyone else.
@csmann: damn do you guys get paid a lot??? pls tell me , i'll also join you
How about asking your Taliban brothers not to kill polio vacinators?
Imran Khan lacks political acumen. He knows very well he made a mistake by committing too much into this drone issue. He must be having a change of heart now. I dare him to stop NATO supplies.
PTI has the full support of TTP for sure.Their agendas coincide.