Hope floats: Lawmakers bring back promises from Islamabad

Say federal water and power minister vowed to address K-P’s concerns .

PESHAWAR:

After a protest by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa lawmakers in Islamabad, Tuesday evening’s talks with the federal government revived some hopes that long-standing issues with the Centre could be resolved through dialogue.

Politicians from K-P, led by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, travelled to Islamabad to register their protest. Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nighat Orakzai told The Express Tribune the main issues raised by K-P’s representatives were power outages, establishing economic zones in the province aligned with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route, payment of net hydel profit royalties and the supply of electricity to Jehangira Industrial Estate.



Orakzai said Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif promised the delegation that the province’s issues would be solved. She said almost all demands by K-P were justified and the federal government must act accordingly.

Opposition’s outlook

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Spokesperson Haji Jalil Jan said his party wanted dialogue instead of a protest and it was a good omen that both sides agreed to come to the negotiating table. “Sit-ins will solve nothing,” said the religious party leader. JUI-F had earlier decided not to participate in the dharna, a stance also taken by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Qaumi Watan Party parliamentary leader Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, who participated in the sit-in, said his party was not convinced with the K-P government’s reasoning for the protest but QWP decided to take part as the issues did concern the province. The party chief said he was not satisfied with the federal government’s attitude either.

Sherpao also said the K-P government should have taken all parties onboard before heading to Islamabad. Once in the capital, lawmakers could have used the media to press the premier to solve K-P’s problems and continued with the protest if he failed to agree, added Sherpao.

Centre’s accountability

PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai told The Express Tribune the K-P government had nothing to do with Punjab and merely wanted its rights from the federal government. She said once people in all the provinces were content, the federation would become stronger.

Gulalai said the federal government should consider the sacrifices rendered by the people of K-P, urging the Centre to extend its complete support to the province. “We [PTI-led provincial government] also enjoy the support of the opposition and if PML-N repeats its past actions, it will lead to a prolonged sit-in—and we mean it,” warned Gulalai.

Awami National Party leader Zahid Khan said the ruling party’s past record suggested it had failed to fulfil its promises or follow its commitment. “Earlier in 1997, they promised our demands would be fulfilled and we joined the government. However, after six months, we had to say goodbye,” Khan said. He hoped the party would keep its word this time around.

Publicity stunt?

For its part, the PML-N saw the demonstration as nothing more than a publicity stunt.

The party’s general secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak said PTI leaders wanted to stay in the headlines and maximise media coverage. He believed matters can only be resolved through dialogue and talks, not protests. “There is no harm in asking something for our province, but you have to provide evidence and sound arguments,” said Rehmat Salam.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.