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Aftab Sherpao for implementation of NAP to get rid of terrorism
*Says the PTI has not taken a single step to implement what it promised in its manifesto
CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that quick implementation on the National Action Plan was need of the hour to get rid of the menace of terrorism once for all and lauded the federal government’s measures made after the horrific APS carnage. Addressing a public rally here at his hometown Sherpao village on the eve of 40th death anniversary of late Hayat Muhammad Khan Sherpao, the former interior minister said the entire nation has become united after the APS massacre and a viable action plan has been evolved against the curse of militancy and terrorism and it is need of the hour to implement it in toto. Sherpao said that peace in the region could only be maintained when both Pakistan and Afghanistan cooperate with each other; therefore both the neighbours should work hand in hand for the maintenance of peace and development of Pukhtoon nation. The relations between both the neighbours are cordial and friendly which is very encouraging, he added. “The people to people contacts should be boosted to take bilateral relations between the two neighbouring Muslim countries to new heights,” he stressed. He also severely criticised PTI chief Imran Khan for ignoring the rights of Pukhtoons, adding he was not at all sincere in the development of the KP and the two years rule of the PTI was a testimony to this fact as no big uplift scheme could be initiated by the PTI till date in the province. Sherpao said the PTI also did not take a single step to implement what it promised in its manifesto. So much so their own MPAs in the provincial assembly were protesting on Sunday against the corruption in the government departments by the PTI’s ministers. The QWP chairman said that Imran Khan was making tall claims about a new KP but had in fact pushed the province towards backwardness. The PTI, which was making tall claims of constructing 300 dams, could not even construct a single dam in last two years, he added. The KP government, he said, also failed in holding the local government elections in two years. The health and education systems in the province have been ruined by the PTI, he said adding that the province was being controlled from Banigala through a remote control. Sherpao also threw a challenge to PTI chief Imran Khan, saying he obtained votes from the people of KP through false slogans of change and left the Pukhtoons in a quagmire of problems and instead focussed his energies on ‘Takht-e-Islamabad’ and ‘Takht-e-Lahore’. He said the smaller provinces in general and the Pukhtoons in particular were feeling a sense of deprivation. “The despondency is deepening day by day. The federation has to play its role to redress the grievances of the smaller units,” he pointed out. He said the Pukhtoons should be taken onboard on foreign and internal policies. He said equitable distribution of resources should be ensured. Sherpao said the issue of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been put on the backburner. “Those who made sacrifices for the restoration of peace are exposed to untold miseries while the benefits have gone to others,” he complained. He added that the Pukhtoon nation and tribal region is faced with enormous difficulties for last couple of decades; hence this region deserved special attention of the government so that their backwardness could be removed. He said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) should be brought into the mainstream. “The policy of buffer zone should be scrapped,” he demanded. Sherpao also opposed any change in Kashgar-Gwadar trade route and urged the federal government to avoid making any alteration in the said project. The public meeting was also addressed among others by QWP General Secretary Anisazeb Tahirkheli, Mazdoor Kisan Party President Afzal Khamoosh and Fazlur Rehman Nono. Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpap, Hasham Babar, MPAs Bakht Baidar, Sultan Muhammad Khan, Khalid Khan Ziaym and Charsadda DDAC Chairman Arshad Khan Umerzai were present on the occasion.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk