QWP chief urges PTI-led govt in KP to develop province’s poverty-stricken areas, address IDPs’ woes, engage in dialogue with govt, accept judicial commission’s verdict over poll rigging
National Assembly Member (MNA) and Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Sunday urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to remove the sense of deprivation among the people of the southern districts of the province by starting development schemes in the areas.
Addressing the party’s workers convention in Bannu, the QWP chief said it was unfortunate that main development projects took place only at urban centres of the country whereas poverty-hit areas like the KP’s southern districts were “altogether ignored”.
This has instilled a sense of deprivation among the people of those areas, he added.
“Ignoring the plight of these people, the PTI leadership – which claims to be a champion of peoples’ rights is busy holding sit-ins and violent protests,” said Sherapao, adding that protests do not augur well for the country’s future.
Appreciating Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s announcement to reduce electricity tariff and petroleum products’ prices, Sherpao said such pro-people initiatives would go a long way in providing relief to masses, adding that gas and power supply facilities should also be provided to all areas and villages.
He was of the view that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan who had rendered numerous sacrifices for sake of the country were facing hardships but the PTI-led government in KP seemed” least interested” in resolving their problems.
He said solid measures should be taken for early and respectable return of the displaced people to their homes, adding that the IDPs should be provided all basic facilities of life.
Lambasting the PTI leadership for announcing countrywide protests, Sherpao said that such a course of action was inflicting irreparable loss on the country’s economy.
He under lined the need for the PTI leadership to come to negotiating table with the government to peacefully resolve all issues through dialogue.
Instead of merely levelling allegations and holding protests, PTI Chairman Imran Khan should present before the judicial commission any piece of evidence he has with regard to poll rigging, said the QWP chief.
The judicial commission’s decision should then be accepted by both the government and PTI,” he added.
