Mehtab Abbasi (sitting second from right), addresses participants of the 110th Jashn-e-Hazara festival in Haripur. PHOTO: ONLINE
“The war against terror has destroyed the socio-economic fabric of the country, making the lives of citizens miserable.” Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi made the statement while addressing participants of the 110th Jashn-e-Hazara festival in Haripur on Thursday.
Rejecting the notion that this was Pakistan’s war, Abbasi said it was imposed on the country. Nonetheless, the political leadership is united to help regain the country’s lost glory and peace, claimed the governor.
“In order to regain the country’s respect among other nations, we have to get rid of the menace of terrorism.” And to do so would require putting our own house in order first, argued Abbasi.
“We are passing through defining moments this year,” he claimed. The tribesmen have served Pakistan well and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is resolved to help restore the tribal people’s confidence in the federal government, added the governor.
Talking about his relationship with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, he said the aim of both ruling parties was to bring normalcy and peace to the country. “We will draw strength from each other to win back Pakistan’s lost respect”.
Talking about the festival, Abbasi claimed cultural values have a great role in nation building despite today’s fast-paced world.
“Local traditions and culture need to be kept intact while moving towards development,” he said, quoting examples of Brazil’s annual Rio de Janeiro carnival.
The governor appreciated arrangements for the festival and the performance of players, especially those who participated in the tent pegging competition.
Earlier, schoolchildren presented a physical training show and horse riding clubs from Haripur presented their skills in tent pegging, entertaining the audience.
Later the Abbottabad High Court Bar Association hosted a lunch in the governor’s honour who visited his native city for the first time since moving into the Governor House.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2014.
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"The war against terror has destroyed the socio-economic fabric of the country, making the lives of citizens miserable." -- Sir, peace with terror has not stopped the killing of innocent people. -Sir what to do now? any suggestion other than status quo.