CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday termed the May 9 the blackest day in the country’s history and demanded strict punishment as per the law for the masterminds, facilitators and perpetrators of the violence.

Speaking at a meeting of party office-bearers in Zaim union council here, he said the military installations were attacked, government buildings and state properties were vandalised during the so-called protests during the May 9-10 mayhem across the country.

“The country has never experienced such vandalism and chaotic situation. Even Pakistan’s enemies could not dare attack the country’s military installations the way the miscreants indulged in vandalism under a pre-planned conspiracy to weaken the foundations of the motherland,” he lamented, calling for severe punishment for the perpetrators, their abettors and instigators.

Aftab Sherpao said giving any relief to the perpetrators of violence by any institution would amount to treason against the state.

Holding the PTI chairman responsible for the mayhem, the QWP leader said Imran Khan not only ‘pitted’ the state institutions against each other but also ‘poisoned’ the minds of the young people.

He vowed that his party would spare no effort to work for the welfare of the young generation to create jobs for them in order to steer them away from negative activities.

He said Imran Khan had a cult following, which was harmful for the country, adding the PTI even tarnished Pakistan’s image at the international level.

Aftab Sherpao said Imran Khan was ousted from power through the vote of no-confidence, which was a democratic process, but the PTI chairman lacked the moral courage to concede defeat.

The previous PTI government, he maintained, was responsible for the prevailing state of economic affairs.

Commenting on the recent federal budget, he said though the government announced salary raise for the government employees, it was not in line with the rising price-hike.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the least developed province, asking the federal government to give it its due share of resources and funds, particularly for the merged tribal districts.

Mr Sherpao urged the federal government to give KP its share in the Kisan Package and the 5,000 solar tubewells to be installed across the country to boost agriculture in the province. He said KP had lagged far behind in the race of development due to the ‘misrule’ and bad governance over the last 10 years.

He also expressed concern over the long hours of electricity loadshedding in KP.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023