PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party has asked for an end to the prevailing stalemate in the peace process in Afghanistan and stressed the need for making strenuous efforts to restore peace in the warn-torn country.

According to a statement issued here on Monday, QWP chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told party workers that all the stakeholders should join hands sincerely to restore stability in the war-torn country.

On the occasion, a group of Awami National Party workers from Shangla district including Anwar Ali Khan Ghorbandi, Mohammad Saleem, Mohammad Afzal, Farzand Ali, Fateh Hassan and Akbar Ali announced joining QWP.

They expressed confidence in the QWP leadership and vowed to work for strengthening the party in the remote district. QWP Shangla chapter organiser Advocate Shah Saud was also present on the occasion.

ANP workers from Shangla announce to join QWP

Mr Sherpao said that all the stakeholders should exercise tolerance at that critical juncture to bring Afghanistan out of the quagmire and restore normalcy in the country on sustainable basis.

He said that any step taken in haste would have regional and global consequences. He added that any such step would increase violence and insecurity for the Afghans, who suffered for decades and were still living in different countries as refugees.

Mr Sherpao also called for stability of democratic process in Afghanistan so that Afghans could continue to elect their representatives in a free, fair and impartial manner. He said that peace was a prerequisite for development and the region could not prosper unless stability was restored in Afghanistan.

The QWP chief also criticised the PTI government and said that it badly failed to fulfil its commitments with the voters. He said that the ruling clique failed to serve the people by honouring the election pledges. He said that rulers were unable to strengthen the country’s economy and that’s why poverty was increasing rapidly in the country.

Mr Sherpao said that national debt was soaring with each passing day and government was clueless to revive the failing economy. He said that QWP supported the stance of the joint opposition in the best national interests and would continue to raise voice for the rights of Pakhtuns.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2019