Imran seeking pretext to quit govt: Sherpao

Published December 7, 2013
Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. — File photo
Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. — File photo

PESHAWAR, Dec 6: Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Sherpao on Friday said none of the opposition parties had ever made attempts to weaken the provincial government but it seemed that the ruling PTI was not serious about running the affairs and was seeking pretexts to quit power.

The QWP chief told a news conference at his Hayatabad residence here that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was not serious about resolving the problems faced by Pakhtuns otherwise he would have taken effective measures for the purpose.

He said PTI was seriously considering to quit the government over failure to make strategy for solution of problems faced by Pakhtuns.

Mr Sherpao said the statements issued by Imran Khan showed that he had got frustrated and lost the courage to face the public due to lawlessness, joblessness and other issues.

“Once Imran said he will opt to dissolve the provincial assembly but now he is warning the federal government over efforts to destabilise the provincial government,” he said.

The QWP chief said PTI had failed to resolve the people’s real problems, while its stand on the US drone attacks was just an attempt to save face on serious issues like joblessness and lawlessness in the province.

He said his party had the ability to overcome major socioeconomic and security problems in coordination with the rest of opposition parties in a befitting manner compared to the ruling clique.

Mr Sherpao said his party was opposed to the US drone strikes and raised voice on it from time to time but the way PTI adopted for blockade of Nato supplies was not in the interests of Pakhtuns.

He said the agitation by PTI was just a drama to hoodwink the unemployed youths but such dramas couldn’t long last.

The QWP chief the provincial government was bound to focus on resolving real issues, restoring peace, initiating development schemes and providing jobs to the people across the province.

He said his party as coalition partner in the government was sincerely guiding PTI to focus on the real issues but Imran himself axed his feet that took action against QWP ministers for no faults of theirs.

Mr Sherpao said the attitude of Imran Khan towards Pakhtuns was not acceptable to the people as he had begun protest demonstrations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to win political ground in Punjab.

“It is no service to the downtrodden Pakhtuns,” he said. The QWP chief said terrorism had badly affected lives of the people in the province and that they direly needed development schemes and financial support but Imran Khan failed to fulfil his commitments he had made ahead of the May 11 elections.

He recalled the sacrifices of the people, including law-enforcement agencies’ personnel, businessmen and the public, for peace and said it was duty of the government to remove the people’s unrest by addressing their problems.

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