PESHAWAR: Awami National Party provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday asked the federal government to address the apprehensions of smaller provinces about the forthcoming population census and make the census plan public.

During a news conference here at the party’s central secretariat, the ANP leader expressed reservations about the shifting of census data from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad for counting.

“There is no justification to shift KP census data to Islamabad for counting as Punjab has been provided the same facility,” he said, adding that his party would oppose the move.

The countrywide population census will begin on March 15.

Mr. Hoti said the government should make a uniform policy for population census to prevent bogus entries.

He said Pakhtuns had been deprived of due rights due to flaws in the previous population census plan.

The ANP leader, who served as the provincial chief minister, said uncertainty surrounded the status of tribal areas.

He said the summary about Fata reforms was removed from the agenda of the federal cabinet’s recent meeting at the eleventh hour and thus, creating confusions.

Mr. Hoti said Fata parliamentarians were still protesting and that the ANP supported genuine demands of tribal people.

He said his party was in favour of drastic reforms in Fata and that the government should give tribal people full representation in the KP Assembly.

The ANP leader said the federal government should not delay reforms in Fata and merge the region with KP.

He said he was ready to set up a jirga to persuade the politicians opposing the Fata-KP merger.

Mr. Hoti suggested the announcement of a comprehensive economic package for Fata.

He condemned the Punjab police for harassing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen living in Lahore and other areas of the province and said the ANP had already submitted a resolution to the provincial assembly secretariat about it.

On the occasion, former MPA Iftikharuddin Khattak announced the joining of the ANP along with family members and supporters.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2017