PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has demanded of the federal government to release pending dues of net hydel profit amounting to Rs650 billion to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for initiation of development projects in the province.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan said that federal government was duty bound to release the pending dues of net hydel profit to the province.

He said that federal government slashed the share of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Public Sector Development Programme in the budget. He added that such treatment would increase sense of deprivation among Pakhtuns.

He said that federal government decreased KP’s share from last year’s Rs274 billion to Rs248 billion in 2021-22 budget that would hit the province hard. He said that share of Sindh and Punjab was increased in the federal budget while KP’s share was slashed.

Aimal Wali says budget will add to people’s misery

Sharing some details of the three-day meeting of his party cabinet, working committee and provincial council, Aimal Wali said that participants rejected the federal budget and feared that it would further add to miseries of people. He said that government wanted to collect up to Rs300 billion indirect taxes through petroleum levy which would lead to unprecedented price hike in the country.

He said that government also slashed funds for tribal districts. At the time of merger, the rulers had promised to release Rs100 billion annually for 10 years to execute developmental schemes in the former Fata, but they failed to fulfil the commitment, he added.

The ANP leader said that disturbance in National Assembly during the speech of opposition leader was meant to bring a bad name to democracy and politicians in the country. He said that the disruption was preplanned and his party condemned it in strong words.

Flanked by ANP central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Advocate Khushdil Khan and Samar Haroon Bilour, Aimal Wali said that government was unable to run the country’s affairs and all the policies were dictated by IMF.

He said with withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan the value of dollar would increase which would have serious impact on economy of the country.

The ANP leader also talked about increase in the activities of anti-state elements and said that terrorists were sending messages to people for ransom in different areas. He said that it was duty of government to take action against the terrorists across the board without keeping in view the good and bad Taliban.

About reorganisation of ANP, he said that five committees were formed to mobilise workers in different zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Hazara, Malakand, former Fata, southern districts and Peshawar division.

The committees would be led by Aimal Wali Khan, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Sardar Hussain Babak, Mian Iftikhar Hussain and retired Brig Saleem Khan.

He said that his party parted ways with Pakistan Democratic Movement and was playing active role against faulty policies of the government.

He said ANP had developed understanding with PPP to share views about political situation in the country but any further step regarding alliance with it would be taken only after consultation with office-bearers of the party.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2021