SWABI/PESHAWAR: Rejecting the demand of PTI chief Imran Khan for early elections, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that it would deprive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of five increased seats of National Assembly.

“We want timely elections. The people, who demand early polls, should let Election Commission of Pakistan to do its work according to the Constitution,” he told a gathering in Topi here on Wednesday.

On the occasion, PTI leader Fida Mohammad and his supporters announced to quit their party and joined QWP.

About next general elections, Mr Sherpao said that people were the best judges, who knew everything and were aware of the performance of the ruling parties.

“People had voted to power the religious parties but later rejected them in 2008. Similarly, ANP was also voted to power and then rejected in 2013 elections. Now I think is the turn of PTI because it has failed to deliver,” he added.

The QWP chief questioned revival of the alliance of religious parties, saying JUI-F was an ally of PML-N in the federal government while Jamaat-i-Islami was a coalition partner of PTI in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

Mr Sherpao said that stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan was linked to good relations between the two countries. He said that incidents of terrorism put stability of the region on stake that was a cause of concern for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“No doubt, stability and prosperity of the two counties are linked. Instead of criticising each other, the leaders of the two countries should hold talks and find out a solution,” he said. He added that the issue of terrorism could only be addressed through mutual cooperation and mutual respect.

In Peshawar, QWP general secretary Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli urged provincial government to avoid politicising the ugly incident of Dera Ismail Khan and provide justice to the girl, who was dragged naked in streets by armed men some weeks ago.

Addressing a press conference, she said that QWP did not want to raise the issue for point scoring but its only purpose was to support the victim. She said that police tried to tarnish image of the innocent girl by supporting the suspects but government failed to take action against the SHO concerned.

The QWP leader asked the government to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incident to unearth reality and punish the real culprits. “We will not rest unless justice is provided to the affected family,” she added.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017