May 17, 2015
News
Original route of Pak-China corridor be kept intact: APC
*Joint declaration maintains economic corridor is a positive step, therefore, shouldn't be made controversial
OnlineQUETTA: The All Parties Conference arranged by the Awami National Party (ANP) on Saturday termed the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) an effective step towards the development of Pakistan, while demanding that its original route be maintained.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan chaired the APC attended by representatives of political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party, Balochistan National Party, Hazara Democratic Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S, Balochistan Bar and trade bodies.
ANP leader Mian Iftekhar Hussain presented the main clauses of the joint declaration, stating that the economic corridor was a positive step of the government; therefore, “don’t make it controversial”.
The ANP chief maintained that the original route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should not change. “We welcomed the Chinese president’s visit and we support Chinese aid to Pakistan,” the ANP chief said. “But that is not where the problem is. The problem is in Islamabad.”
To Ahsan Iqbal’s statements in which he had said that those who oppose the current route are traitors, the ANP chief said that such statements do not affect him.
“When Pakhtun and Baloch prosper, is that Pakistan’s prosperity or destruction?” he asked. Wali pointed out that the economic corridor agreement was originally made under the Zardari government in 2012.
“We are not making this issue controversial,” Wali said, adding that the government was making it controversial. He said he had raised some questions with the prime minister in the economic corridor meeting held in Islamabad earlier this week, but the PM avoided answering those questions.
“Give us the details of the agreement between the federal government and the Balochistan government on Gwadar,” he posed the questions again. “Tell us how the income from Gwadar will be distributed between the federal government and the Balochistan government,” he said, adding, “We have to get answers for these questions.” ANP Balochistan Chapter President Asghar Achakzai said people of the province considered the change in the Pakistan-China corridor route as Kalabagh Dam and ‘one-unit’ moves, which would not be allowed.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk