July 03, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 6, 1427

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PESHAWAR, July 2: Federal Interior Minister and president of Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao group) Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that an official delegation will soon visit Kabul to secure the release of Pakistanis still languishing in Afghan jails.

Talking to a delegation of notables from Azakhel and Telaband who joined PPP (S), Mr Sherpao said that the government had so far secured release of at least 1,500 Pakistanis, detained in Afghan jails. He said an official team had been assigned to visit Kabul and secure their release.

Mr Sherpao lashed out at the Awami National Party leadership, which according to him had betrayed Pukhtuns. He ridiculed the ANP’s false claim of having raised voice for the rights of Pukhtuns in America, saying it was an eyewash to mislead people. The ANP’s stance, he said, was full of contradictions as it had no clear-cut line of action.

He said his party had forcefully raised voice for the rights of Pukhtuns at every forum but the other parties hoodwinked them through hollow slogans.

He said the ANP was engaged in alluring political top guns for different considerations and such conduct had badly discouraged ANP’s committed activists. He viewed that a party which attracted politicians through hollow slogans cannot serve people. On the other hand, he said, the PPP would award party tickets to candidates on merit so that they could serve the masses.

Mr Sherpao criticised the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government for resorting to injustice in distribution of development funds.

He said the funds had been distributed to few areas and the majority ones had been ignored, which was contrary to the Islamic injunctions. He said the MMA had failed to live up to its promises and redress the grievances of the people.