PESHAWAR: The Qaumi Watan Party on Tuesday expressed serious concern about threats to the life of its chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and warned that if any harm was caused to the party chief, the government would be responsible for it.

QWP provincial senior vice-chairman Tariq Ahmad Khan and vice-chairperson Dr Faiza Rasheed told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that it was the government’s duty to ensure the security of politicians.

Mr Tariq said the police were active to issue ‘threat alert’ but didn’t bother to take appropriate measures for the security of Mr Sherpao.

He said the law-enforcement agencies claimed to have details of the plans of terrorists but they hadn’t taken any steps to arrest them.

“Threats to the lives of our party’s leaders are not new. They were attacked in the past but didn’t yield to any pressure,” he said.

The QWP leader said the party’s leadership had done nothing wrong and had always worked for the development of the poor people.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to take necessary steps for protection of the life of Mr Sherpao.

Mr Tariq said the party would continue its activities, including re-organisation exercise, in different districts despite threats.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2020