Differences have cropped up between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led federal and Awami National Party (ANP)-run Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments over the ongoing power crisis.
The provincial government has decided to go as far as raising the issue in the next meeting of council of common interests (CCI), besides tabling a resolution against it in the Provincial Assembly. Meanwhile, the high command of the Awami National Party has demanded an early disbanding of WAPDA and transferring the electricity system to the provinces.
“None other than WAPDA is responsible for the whole mess,” said ANP provincial President Senator Afrasiab Khattak during a press conference on Monday.
Flanked by Bashir Ahmad Bilour, provincial ministers and ANP office-bearers, Khattak said, “We have decided to convene an All-Parties Conference on the electricity issue on August 9.”
Khattak said, “Earlier, the ANP had consulted counterparts from other political forces on important issues. We believe that the energy crises is a serious issue, therefore, the ANP intends to take other political parties into confidence regarding the future line of action for tackling the matter. It will be a single-point conference whereas matters pertaining to electricity load shedding will be discussed and consensus will be made for finding out its amicable solution.” Speaking on the occasion, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said presently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was given only 1,200MW of electricity, while the the consumption was 2,800MW. To a question, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour slammed the Punjab govt, particularly Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s demand for equal load shedding in all four provinces. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the major producer of electricity, therefore, it should be exempted from load shedding.
Demands power minister’s resignation: The ANP also called for the resignation of Water and Power Minister Chaudhry Ahemd Mukhtar for his failure to overcome the power crisis. The ANP leaders staged a walkout from the Senate in protest of prolonged power outages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Our people are suffering from load shedding. The motorway and many other roads have been blocked. People are protesting but nobody is here to listen,” said ANP Senator Zahid Khan. Zahid Khan and Haji Adeel got angry and protested over the absence of ministers during the Senate session. They said the minister should resign if he could not resolve the issue of load shedding. Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari said the issue was on the agenda and that they (the ANP) could discuss it in the House. MQM lawmaker Tahir Mashhadi also raised concern over targeted killings and extortion in Karachi and said the industry in the city had been destroyed.
