SWABI: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar said on Monday that peace was in the interests of both Pakistan and India and asked New Delhi to reciprocate Prime Minister Imran Khan’s peace overtures.

Speaking at a function organised by Swabi Electronic Media Association, he said good working relations between the two nuclear-armed states could prove beneficial for the people of the whole region.

However, he warned that the peace overtures of Pakistan should not be considered weakness as Islamabad had the capability to defend its sovereignty and thwart aggression.

Mr Qaisar said if India committed any mistake like it did by violating its airspace then Pakistan would respond aggressively.

Answering a question, he said both Pakistan and India were confronting challenges like poverty, health issues, education, climate change and various other problems, and instead of wasting their resources in war they should work for eradication of such ills.

He lauded the continued efforts of the international community to defuse tension between the two countries.

He criticised the Indian media for negative propaganda and warmongering. He said the decision to stay away from foreign ministers meeting of Organisation of Islamic Conference was made by parliament.

CLEANLINESS DRIVE: A cleanliness campaign has been started in the Tordher region, said officials on Monday.

They said the four TMAs had chalked out a plan in this regard and employees showing negligence would face action. They said people would also be educated about the importance of cleanness and their role in that regard.

They said the people should throw garbage at the selected places and avoid throwing waste in streets.

OFFICE-BEARERS NAMED: The Awami National Party elected its district office-bearers on Monday.

Amanullah Khan was elected district president and Nawabzada general secretary.

The other office-bearers are Ghulam Haqqani, senior vice-president, Hameedul Haq, vice-president-1, Waris Khan, vice-president-2, Ayaz Shoaib, additional general secretary, Raees Khan, deputy general secretary, Yaqoob Shah Bacha, finance secretary, Khalid Khan, press secretary, Sayed Maqbool Shah, cultural secretary, Sajjad Khan, joint secretary, and Dr Ashraf Khan Salar.

Tasleem Bibi has been elected district president of the women wing of the party and Nagina Jan joint secretary.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2019