PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has vowed that all conspiracies against the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be foiled and any solution short of that would not be acceptable to Pakhtuns.

He said the QWP would shortly evolve an effective strategy to speed up the process of merger, vowing that the party would leave no stone unturned for the rights of tribal people.

According to a statement issued here on Friday, Mr Sherpao took strong exception to prime minister’s directives for the postponement of the Fata-KP merger. He regretted that the Fata-KP merger bill had been tabled in the National Assembly for passage, but it was deferred at the behest certain elements.

The QWP chief termed it a mockery with the parliament, the people of tribal regions and the democracy as well. He said it was great injustice with the tribal people who had rendered sacrifices for the country’s cause.

Mr Sherpao claimed that the PM had been hijacked by certain elements on Fata-KP merger issue, saying such elements were trying to make the issue controversial which was disservice to Pakhtuns.

It is painful that the opponents of the Fata-KP merger have not only ignored the ‘national consensus’ over the issue but have also created hurdles in Pakhtuns’ unity, he contended.

Meanwhile, reacting to the International Court of Justice decision staying the execution of Indian spy agent Kulbhushan Jadhav, Aftab Sherpao stated that it was the result of the weak policies of the government.

Talking to members of Muhammadzai Union of Journalists in Charsadda, he said India had declared ICJ decision as its victory.

Earlier, Mr Sherpao offered Fateha at the death of Shah Iran Bacha, QWP former candidate from PK-17, Charsadda, and the brother of public health committee chairman Haji Zaffar Khan.

He insisted that the Jadhav’s case didn’t fall under the ICJ jurisdiction, demanding that an effective team of legal experts should be set up to plead the case at the world court.

Mr Sherpao said the JIT formed to probe corruption charges against the prime minister should expedite investigation.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2017