Addressing needs: Political parties to participate in today’s APC on IDPs

Leaders express reservations, say PTI using opportunity for point-scoring .

PESHAWAR:

Although several political parties have decided to participate in the all-parties conference (APC) on displaced persons convened by the provincial government, the general perception among leaders remains that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is using the opportunity for point-scoring.

PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Information Secretary, MNA Ayesha Gulalai told The Express Tribune the sole purpose of the APC is to address the miseries of internally displaced persons (IDP) being accommodated in K-P, and to demand funds from the federal government to facilitate them.



“The K-P government was unaware of the operation because the chief minister (CM) was not taken into confidence by the federal government and now that an influx of IDPs has reached the province, the federal government is not helping it,” said Gulalai.

However, disagreeing with the PTI MNA, Qaumi Watan Party MPA Sikandar Sherpao claimed the provincial government was aware of the operation because PTI’s Rustam Shah was a part of the peace talks committee.

He added his party will participate in the APC and will present its proposals but expressed reservations on whether those  would be considered or not “as PTI wants to score points on IDPs.”

Awami National Party (ANP) K-P Information Secretary, MPA Sardar Hussain Babak also shared Sherpao’s view. He said during the military operation in Swat and the 2010 floods, the ANP government diverted its development budget to the needs of the IDPs, and flood victims.

“PTI is not sincere about the issue because instead of holding jalsas on IDPs, Imran Khan is holding them regarding election rigging,” said Babak.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Central Spokesperson Jan Achakzai said PTI invited his party informally, however, it will participate in the APC. Achakzai claimed the CM was taken into confidence regarding the operation but his government still failed in handling the IDP situation.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz K-P President Pir Sabir Shah welcomed the APC and said as a representative of the federal government, he will cooperate with the K-P government. Shah added his party did not agree with Imran Khan point scoring on a national issue. “When Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asked Imran Khan to visit IDP camps with him, he refused,” claimed Shah.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim demanded an end to the military offensive and that the IDPs be returned to their houses for Ramazan. “The federal government and its institutions are responsible for the miseries of the people of North Waziristan,” he said.

Ibrahim said this was not an opportune time for a military operation, adding the federal government claims the operation will end soon but it is unclear when.

The JI leader added being a coalition partner of the provincial government his party will make practical proposals to resolve the problems being faced by IDPs.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PP) K-P President Khanzada Khan also said his party would participate in the APC in the interest of the nation. He added he had sent senior PPP leaders to Bannu and their findings will be presented in the APC.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2014.