SWABI: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said on Sunday that the federal government should not force the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to start a protest march against changes in the original plan of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He was addressing a gathering here at Dobuian where Noor Mohammad Bacha and his family joined QWP after quitting the Awami National Party.

He said that it was clear to the leaders of all political parties that the original route of CPEC passed through Gwadar, Quetta, Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan. However, he warned that if any change was made now then the federal government would be responsible for the negative consequences.

Sherpao says issue of KP-Fata merger should not be politicised

“Only one province should not get all the benefits of this gigantic project,” he said while referring to Punjab.

The QWP chief said that the federal government had not taken any measures to compensate the Pakhtuns of different regions and the people did not even receive the aid sent by other countries and international donors.

He said that the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would end the exploitation of tribal people. “The merger issue should not be politicised by the leaders of political parties. They should sit together and display unity,” he said.

Mr Sherpao appealed to the international community to take notice of the flagrant human rights violations in India-held Kashmir, unprovoked firing and continuous ceasefire violations by the Indian armed forces. He called for early solution of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue.

Abdul Karim, advisor to the chief minister, and other leaders of the party also spoke on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD MARCH: Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said here on Sunday that PTI’s upcoming Islamabad march would prove to be the last nail in the PML-N’s coffin.

Shahram Khan Tarakai, provincial health minister, said that PTI chief Imran Khan had warned the government that the prime minister should either resign or present himself for accountability. He said that corruption was the biggest problem of Pakistan and without eradication of this menace the country would continue to lag behind in various fields. He asked other political parties to support the PTI march.

Rangaiz Khan, district coordinator of PTI, said that they were ready for the march. He said that a large number of people, especially youth, would reach Islamabad on Oct 30.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2016