F.P. Report
CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday said the opposition stood united while the allies of the government would soon ditch Prime Minister Imran Khan. He was addressing a well-attended gathering in Sherpao village in Charsadda in connection with the 47th death anniversary of Shaheed Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao.
Paying tribute to his elder brother, he said, “We are following into the footsteps of Shaheed Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao and will carry forward his mission.” He recalled that Hayat Mohammad Khan raised voice for the deprived sections of the society, including the labourers and peasants. He said Hayat Sherpao worked for upholding Pakistan’s sovereignty and foiled the conspiracies of the anti-state elements.
“His political opponents, including landlords, industrialists and capitalists, had ganged up against him. He bravely faced all odds and laid down his life,” he said. He said the Pakistan Democratic Movement had decided to go for no-confidence move due to incompetence of Prime Minister Imran Khan and keeping in view the sufferings of the people.
He said the opposition wanted a free and fair election in the country. Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Aftab Sherpao said price-hike had made life miserable for the people. He said the government had again raised the electricity tariff by Rs3.9 per unit and it was considering increasing prices of petroleum products by Rs18 per litre. Ridiculing the prime minister for giving awards to his ministers, the QWP leader said that Imran Khan should ask the nation about his own performance first.
“The patience of the people is wearing thin. They want to get rid of this hybrid government,” he remarked. He also flayed the provincial government, saying it compromised over the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the poor economic situation had adversely affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The QWP leader said his party had played its role in the passage of the 18th Amendment. He added that 18th Amendment was first step towards provincial autonomy. “We want more rights for the province. QWP wants economically strong provinces,” he added. He lamented that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered the most in PTI government as the province did not receive its due rights. He said the government wanted to undo the 18th Amendment but the QWP would resist such a move.
He said the federal government should take along the provinces in decision-making. He said the QWP was striving for a new social contract to ensure the rights of the smaller provinces. Aftab Sherpao said the the post-August 15 scenario in Afghanistan had impacted our region. He appealed to the world community to extend relief to the Afghans on humanitarian grounds.
The QWP leader said that Fata reforms were not being implemented in letter and spirit, adding that the people of the merged districts were suffering. He also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order in the tribal districts. Aftab Sherpao vowed that the QWP would resolve the problems of the youth and would create employment opportunities for them. “We provided jobs to the youth in the past. We have a plan and will give jobs to them in future if voted to power,” he promised. He hailed lifting ban on student unions by Sindh government and called for undoing restrictions on student unions all over the country.
