PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Friday said the suicide attack on his convoy was a conspiracy to eliminate Pakhtun leadership to silence the voice raised for the rights of oppressed Pakhtuns.

Addressing a news conference here, the QWP chief said he survived several attempts on life but didn’t know the reason behind them.

He said the only possible reason behind the attack was that he raised voice for the rights of Pakhtuns and against the injustices meted out to them.

“It’s the duty of the government to expose elements involved in the attack on my life,” he said.

Accompanied by provincial QWP chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, central information secretary Hashim Babar, Sherpao said the government had formed the National Action Plan to eradicate terrorism but it failed to focus on its objectives.

He said the attack on his life was meant to detract Pakhtun leadership, saying such acts would increase the miseries being faced by the people of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because they were already facing multiple problems in the shape of poverty, militancy, natural disasters and ill planning on part of the government.

“Such attacks cannot discourage us because all QWP leaders and workers are fully determined to continue the struggle for the rights of the people at all costs,” he said, adding that the policy to push Pakhtuns against the wall would not succeed.

Says govt should expose elements behind bid on his life

Sherpao said his party had taken very clear stand against the change in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and would stand firm unless the original plan was restored.

He urged the government to link the corridor with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adjoining tribal areas, Balochistan and other provinces to remove the unrest among them.

The QWP chief said no one was sincere to pay attention to the resolution of the real issues of the people, whose sense of deprivation was on the rise.

Appreciating the activists of his party, he said they were ready to contest the local government elections with a new spirit in all the districts of the province despite the security threats. He said the provincial government was bound to feel its responsibilities and ensure protection to lives and properties of the people.

“I have already suggested operation clean up against the terrorists in Peshawar, Charsadda and other adjacent districts when we were in part of the provincial government so that writ of the government could be restored but to no avail,” he said.

Sherpao said all provincial governments were bound to implement the decisions of the national action plan in the real sense and take effective steps for the eradication of militancy and keep the people informed about the progress in the law and order situation.

He also urged the ECP to ensure transparent local government elections and stop use of the government machinery and funds for molding public opinion.

“The government has spent 25 percent of ADP and spending the rest of funds for pre-poll rigging,” he alleged.

The QWP chief opposed the appointment of deputy commissioners as returning officers saying the government employees couldn’t ensure fairness of the electoral process.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2015

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