PESHAWAR: Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan has said the government will not be allowed to reduce share of the provinces in the National Finance Commission award on the pretext of giving share to the seven tribal districts.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said the federal government’s decision to give share to newly-merged districts in the NFC award was a positive step, but it won’t be allowed to do so by cutting provinces’ share.

He warned the government not to rollback the 18th amendment which granted larger autonomy to the four federating units. He said that slashing share of the provinces in NFC would be unconstitutional and violation of the provincial autonomy.

He said the previous assembly and the Council of Common Interest had proposed to give share to former Fata from NFC, adding the constitution did not allow a cut in the share of the provinces from the NFC award.

Asfandyar said it had been clearly mentioned in the constitution that KP government would carry out development activities in the tribal districts, but not at the cost of provinces’ share. He called for financial support of the KP government to cope with the emerging situation.

He said the federal government should take practical steps to finalise Fata-KP merger and start development works in the area.

He demanded holding local government and provincial assembly elections in the seven tribal districts.

The ANP leader said delay in the 8th NFC award was unconstitutional and harmful for the federation. He said ANP would take other political forces on board to block any unconstitutional act of the federal government.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018