PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party’s provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao on Sunday asked the federal government to avoid using delaying tactics in holding population census and distributing national resources on the basis of merit to redress grievances of the smaller federating units.

He was speaking at a public meeting at Kaga Wala area in the suburbs of Peshawar where scores of people belonging to various political parties, led by Malik Zaidullah Khan, joined QWP.

He expressed his party’s concern over the delay in merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the decision should be taken at the earliest so that the people could elect their representatives in the provincial assembly. He said that integration of Fata with KP would make it the second largest province in the country.

Sikandar Sherpao calls for holding population census

Sikandar Sherpao, who is the senior provincial minister for irrigation, demanded of the federal government to make sincere efforts to resolve the longstanding issues of the province, including upgradation of power transmission lines, and timely announcement of NFC award and provision of due share to KP in the development projects.

He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was the only hope for the people of different provinces, but the federal government had focused its attention only on Punjab.

Urging the government to hold the national census before 2018 general elections, the QWP provincial chief said that it was the only scale for distribution of the resources otherwise the federal government would be seen as avoiding giving due share to the smaller federating units.

Sikandar Sherpao stated that steps should be taken for upgradation of power transmission lines to put an end to line losses. He stated that the indifferent attitude of the federal government towards the smaller provinces was developing a sense of deprivation among the people.

The senior minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be given complete control of its natural resources. He claimed that QWP was the only political party which had been fighting for the rights of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Party’s district senior vice-chairman Mohammad Shafi, general secretary Saifullah, Saleem Chamkani, Nawaz Khan and Iqbal Khan were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn October 24th, 2016