May 12 , 2015
NewsKP parliamentarians end Islamabad protest after talks between Khattak, Asif
ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the federal government and protesting parliamentary leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ended successfully on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to give the government a week's time to address grievances over the province's rights.
Speaking to reporters after the protest, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif had assured the protesters that the government will soon address their demands regarding prolonged electricity cuts, changes to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and outstanding dues owed by the Centre.
Khattak, who was standing alongside Asif and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, said that a meeting was scheduled with WAPDA officials on Friday to resolve the issue of long power cuts in the province.
He said that he had also been promised that a meeting will be arranged with Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the coming week.
“Most problems have already been resolved, and I am hopeful that outstanding issues including those concerning electricity, gas, oil and other will also be resolved soon,” said Asif.
“As for issues regarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the prime minister has called a meeting of parliamentary leaders tomorrow. Hopefully, the issue will be resolved there,” he said.
JI chief Sirajul Haq said he was hopeful that the problem of prolonged load-shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be resolved before the start of Ramazan.
Earlier, minor scuffles were witnessed between police and demonstrators as the protesters led by KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak demanded to enter Parliament House in an attempt to press the federal government for acceptance of the demands of the province.
The protest march started from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad and reached the Parliament House around 12:00PM.
But the demonstrators soon dispersed after Khattak and Sirajul Haq held successful negotiations with Federal Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif.Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk