MINGORA: Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that there is an immediate need of change in the country’s foreign policy.

Addressing a workers convention in Matta here on Monday, he said that the country would face Syria and Iraq like situation if its foreign policy was not changed.

The convention was attended by a large number of ANP workers and local leaders. Former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Swat ANP president Sher Shah Khan, Ayub Khan and Abdul Jabbar Khan were also present on the occasion. Criticising Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the ANP chief said that he did not fulfil his promise made in All-Party Conference about the share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “If Nawaz failed to restore the western route of CPEC with all the projects and benefits, he will not be able to take shelter anywhere,” he said. He added that Balochistan was also ignored by centre in CPEC.

He said that provincial government did nothing during the last three years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Terrorism revived in the province where influential and educated Pakthuns are being killed ruthlessly,” said Mr Khan.

Asfandyar criticises prime minister for not honouring promise on CPEC

The ANP chief said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was pushing the country towards civil war by creating rift among the provinces. “PTI chief Imran Khan does not spare anyone in the country and abuses everyone. It is a gloomy sign for politics. He was a good cricketer but he does not know the ABC of politics,” he said.

About relations between Pakistan and India, Mr Khan said that ANP would stand by the country and would fight for the defence of Pakistan anytime.

Earlier, ANP provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti criticised provincial government and termed it a complete failure. He said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak set an example of cowardice as he could not bear a single baton of Pujnab police.

“How will the chief minister lead the province and save it as he could not stand in front of Punjab police while ANP offered sacrifices of 800 lives to save the province,” said Mr Hoti. He said that Imran Khan was using Pakhtuns for acquiring power.

“All the developmental projects have been halted as there is no penny in the provincial treasury,” he said. He said that Pervez Khattak was not loyal to any party as he left PPP and Benazir Bhutto and would soon leave PTI too.

PROTEST: Thousands of residents of Manglafwar, Sair Telegram and Malam Jabba areas staged a protest here on Monday against halting work on Manglawar-Malam Jabba Road.

Accompanied by representatives of local government, the protesters were chanting slogans against the provincial government. They said that work on construction of road was stopped eight months now ago.

Addressing the protesters, district councillor Sarwar Khan said that work on the road was stopped owing lack of funds while provincial government was delaying provision of funds for the project.

“The road connects hundreds of villages of the three union councils with Mingora. The incomplete road has made the journey for local people and tourists difficult,” said district councillor Shah Ristan.

The protesters dispersed peacefully when Assistant Commissioner Kashif Qayum assured them work on the road would resume by December 10. However, they threatened to take to streets if work was not resumed on the road.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2016