KOHAT: Away from parliament, senior leaders from rival political parties gathered here at a wedding party, hugged each other and exchanged pleasantries besides offering comments on important issues.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly, Khurshid Shah, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani were prominent among them.

They were unanimous in their comments that ‘the judgment in Panama case should be against corruption and according to aspirations of the nation’.

However, they had divergent views on various national, provincial and Fata issues which reflected their policies.

Khurshid Shah, Sirajul Haq attend wedding party in Kohat

Talking to media persons after lunch party at the wedding ceremony of district police officer, Ghotki, Masood Bangash the other day, the opposition leader regretted that ‘200 million people were being kept on toes in a case for almost eight months whereas judgments were given in low-profile cases within days’. He also referred to ‘the absence of money trail’ in the Panama case.

Mr Shah disclosed that Pakistan Peoples Party had decided not to tease the PML-N in the first four years to let it run the country without any hurdle.

He added that unfortunately the PML-N government lost its temper and its ministers and advisers had been using foul language which could not be tolerated.

Answering a question, he said that PPP had done a great job while in power in the centre and gave identity to the people here by renaming the province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

To another question, he said that no merger was possible with Qaumi Watan Party of Aftab Sherpao.

However, he added that seats adjustment could be made with it in next election because workers of both the parties were followers of the same leaders.

Sirajul Haq also came down hard on the ruling PML-N and said that it had failed to fulfil any of its election promises of ending poverty, price hike and unemployment.

He said that the only policy of the rulers was to protect their vested interests and make properties here as well as abroad and fill their bank accounts.

He said that the nation had trust in the Supreme Court regarding Panama case. He suggested that the SC should give a mechanism through which the door of corruption should be closed forever.

JUI-F’s Akram Durrani said on this occasion that the tribal people should be taken into confidence by conducting referendum on the issue of KP-Fata merger. He said that his party was opposed to imposition of any decision on Fata people in this regard.

He said that it was a good omen that all the stakeholders, including the prime minister, had agreed to accept the Supreme Court decision in the Panama Leaks case.

Mr Durrani said that JUI-F would form alliance with any party which was closer to its manifesto. He said that JUI-F, ANP, PPP and PTI had taken their turns in KP and now the people would decide which party was safeguarding their interests.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2017