PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has warned the holding of the 2018 general elections on the basis of the 1998 census delimitations will raise questions about the electoral exercise as it will void the struggle of the political parties for the fresh population census.

He added that such demands would jeopardise the holding of the next polls on time.

The QWP chief told a public meeting in Bahadar Kili area on the outskirts of Peshawar on Friday that the new population census had increased the number of constituencies in KP and Balochistan and therefore, any constitutional and legal battle over the matter could deprive the people of smaller provinces of their legal rights.

He said the sudden somersault of the Pakistan People’s Party leadership over delimitation, which increased the National Assembly strength, had unveiled its credentials.

Sherpao says polls under 1998 census delimitations to hurt interests of smaller provinces

Mr Sherpao said the PPP’s U-turn was not in the interests of the small provinces and it would further aggravate their sense of deprivation.

He said democracy was vital for the national development and prosperity and therefore, there was a need for bringing about purity and betterment in the democratic system to address the problem of the people through vote.

The QWP chief expressed concern about the census results in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and said the Fata population was reduced to the minimum under a designed conspiracy in the fresh count, which would deprive the region of its due share in the National Finance Commission Award to its unrest.

“We believe that the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will end the sufferings of the tribal people and ensure provision of all fundamental rights to the people but the government is using delaying tactics to implement the reforms,” he said.

Mr Sherpao urged the federal government to revise its foreign policy as doing so would be in the best national interests.

He said both the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially Pakhtuns living on both sides of the border, were adversely affected in the war against terrorism.

The QWP chief criticised the ruling PTI’s chairman for neglecting KP and said Imran Khan was focusing his attention on Punjab only.

He said in a long period of four and half years the provincial government brought no real progress in the province and had started the developmental works only with aim to show off as a stunt for next elections, which was nothing more than fooling the people.

Mr Sherpao said the countdown for the exposure of the PTI’s hollow claims of change had begun and that the people of the province would vote Imran Khan’s party out in the next elections.

Without naming names, he said some political parties threatened national security for own interests.

“Due to the Panama Papers case, other important national issues, especially Fata merger, was put on the backburner in an act of great injustice with the people of the tribal region,” he said.

On the occasion, political leader Haji Malang Jan announced the joining of the QWP along with scores of his family members and supporters.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2017