NOWSHERA: Awami National Party’s provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has cautioned that any confrontation between the institutions will be harmful for the country.

Addressing a public meeting at Ziarat Kaka Sahib here on Sunday, he said that political parties and other elements should recognise that only political, constitutional and democratic way could lead to power corridors.

Mr Hoti insisted that Punjab was the focus of the powers that be at the cost of ignoring the smaller and backward provinces and regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. He warned that such a trend was not good for the country. He demanded that political maturity should be shown to strengthen the institutions. The ANP leader said election should be held on time.

Mr Hoti criticised the provincial government of PTI for ‘failing’ to fulfill the promises it made with people prior to the 2013 elections.

On the occasion, ANP central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak changed political parties at an opportune time. He insisted that Mr Khattak took orders from Imran Khan in all matters.

Mr Hussain claimed that it was ANP that had secured provincial autonomy and carried out record development in the province, but PTI-led government had failed to utilise its allocated budget for three years.

He alleged that Pervez Khattak had started the bus project in Peshawar in the last six months of his government by taking huge loans. He said the government was unable to pay salaries to its employees as the provincial exchequer was empty.

The ANP leader said the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif was trying to delay the merger of Fata with KP. He said that Pakhtuns living in Balochistan would also become part of KP after the merger.

Mr Hussain demanded of the government to frame an independent foreign police. He said Pakhtuns had suffered for last 35 years, and demanded of the world powers to shun victimising the Pakhtuns anymore.

He stressed upon the Pakhtuns to forge unity and shun differences for their progress.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2017