PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party has extended unequivocal support to the Azadi March of JUI-F to seek resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and pave way for fresh elections in the country.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, QWP chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that his party would participate in the march as opposition parties and people were on the same page to get rid of the incompetent government to save the country from financial bankruptcy.

Earlier, a joint meeting of the federal and provincial councils of QWP was held to elect central and provincial office-bearers of the party.

The participants of the meeting reposed overwhelming confidence in Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao as central chairman of the party.

Sherpao says govt won’t dare to arrest Maulana Fazlur Rehman

He said that the opposition had presented four demands to the government that included the resignation of the prime minister, holding of fresh election, non-deployment of army during polls and protecting the Islamic provisions of the Constitution.

The QWP leader said that government was not serious in holding talks with opposition as it was using indecent language against the political leaders.

“We reject the offer of talks and will continue our struggle,” he added.

He said that there were many proofs to describe the government as selected.

All the opposition parties had time and again rejected the last general elections because they were massively rigged in favour of PTI, he added.

“We had demanded formation of a commission to probe rigging in the elections but the demand was not accepted,” said Mr Sherpao. He added that a parliamentary committee was formed with a minister as its head for the purpose but it could not hold a single meeting during one year in the absence of its terms of reference.

He said that government was unable to pass a single bill from National Assembly and it was running the affairs through promulgation of ordinances.

He said that country was on the verge of bankruptcy owing to the wrong economic policies of the government.

The QWP leader said that government would not dare to arrest Maulana Fazlur Rehman as all the opposition parties were taking part in the march to raise voice against price hike and joblessness.

He said that all the institutions should remain in their constitutional domain. About the possibility of derailing democracy, he said that in the prevailing financial crisis no one would like to take reins of the government.

Mr Sherpao said that small provinces were deprived of their rights.

He added work on the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was suspended due to lack of funds that was injustice with Pakhtuns. He said that the country was turned into a security state.

On the occasion the names of newly elected office bearers of QWP were announced including Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, central chairman; Haji Mohammad Ghufran, senior vice president; Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, central general secretary; Ahmad Nawaz Jadoon, deputy general secretary; Khalil Mardanzai, Sardar Ahmad Nawaz and Zarar Butt, vice presidents; Sher Mohammad Durrani, additional secretary; Masroor Shah, information secretary; and Advocate Hashim Raza, joint secretary.

The provincial office-bearers include Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, provincial chairman; Tariq Ahmad Khan, senior vice chairman; Arshad Umarzai, senior vice chairman; Adnan Wazir, Prof Hameedur Rehman, Baidar Shah and Afzal Panyala, vice chairmen; Hashim Babar, provincial general secretary; Fazlur Rehman Nono, deputy general secretary; Nasreen Khattak, secretary social media; Asad Afridi, secretary information; Iftikhar Khan Zeda, additional secretary; Dr Alam, culture secretary; and Tania Gul, Hasham Khan and Mirza Bacha, joint secretaries.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2019