CHARSADDA Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah has alleged that the federal government has deprived the provinces of their due rights and resources.

He was addressing a public gathering in Umarzai area here where PTI local leader Naeem Khan Umarzai formally announced joining the PPP. The gathering was also addressed by former MNA Najmudin Khan, former provincial minister Liaqat Shabab, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Naeem Umarzai, and others.

Khurshid Shah alleged that the federal government had overburdened the country with massive loans. He said billions were being spent on Orange Line train service and other projects in Lahore, which he said, was not the whole of Pakistan, and asked the federal government to also focus on other regions as well.

He said PPP had completed record developmental projects in its tenure, provided jobs to the poor, took steps for elimination of poverty and improved education, health, agriculture and other sectors.

The opposition leader claimed that it was PPP which renamed the NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provided provincial autonomy and ensured protection of rights of the provinces.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2016