No official directive to block NATO supply routes: Farman

Says no decision will be taken until the PM replies to K-P CM’s letter.

NOWSHERA/ PESHAWAR/ LAKKI MARWAT: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Information Shah Farman has ruled out the possibility of blocking Nato supply routes officially until the federal government replies to the letter written by the provincial government.

On Tuesday, K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak wrote to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asking him to immediately convene a meeting of all provinces and evolve a common strategy against the US drone campaign.

Farman was addressing the media at a two-day seminar on ‘Peace building through strengthening the criminal justice system’. UNDP officials, members of law enforcement agencies, and lawyers were present on the occasion.

According to the information minister, the provincial government is yet to receive a reply to the letter. Talking about PTI’s sit-ins against Nato supplies in the province, Farman said staging a sit-in is the right of citizens but made it clear the K-P government has not issued any direction for officially blocking routes.

Discussing class-based inequality, the minister claimed the current situation in the country is a result of a society where the rich are beyond the arm of law and the impoverished are meant to follow rules. Unless every citizen is treated equally and socio-economic justice prevails, discrimination will lead to uncertainty and goals of achieving peace will remain elusive, stated the minister.

Earlier, UNDP Pakistan country director Marc-André Franche said his organisation has been making efforts to strengthen the justice system. The onus, however, lies on the Pakistani leadership and institutions to enforce laws against inequality, violation of women’s rights and protect minorities, pointed out Franche.

“Violent conflicts always weaken society and violence in Pakistan during the last 12 years has cost around $100billion.” Franche added the only reason for violence in a society is inequality, something which can be rooted out once institutions are strengthened.

Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Syed Akhtar Ali Shah suggested negotiations with stakeholders can bring an end to the continuing conflict.

Sit-ins continue across K-P

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers continued their protest against US drone strikes on Wednesday. The protestors blocked the Indus Highway for more than three hours near Gandhi Chowk, Lakki Marwat. Leaders addressing the protest claimed the demonstrations will only cease if strikes are stopped.

Meanwhile, around 40 PTI activists also gathered near Khairabad Bridge in Nowshera to stop vehicles carrying Nato supplies.  Elsewhere, 350 students from Alpuri tehsil, Shangla marched towards the main market, chanting anti-US slogans.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2013.