CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has called for national dialogue among all political parties to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was utilising all its energies to set the party’s founder Imran Khan free from jail, while the federal government was focusing on bringing the judiciary under its control.

He said the parliament had the right to make legislation, but in a democratic way and not through coercion.

Mr Sherpao said that the PTI’s provincial government was limited to protests and sit-ins, ignoring the province’s development. He insisted that street protests to secure the release of Imran was an undemocratic process, suggesting that there were courts in the country and the PTI chief should face courts for his release.

Condemns DG ISPR’s statement on KP resources as ‘political’

Reacting to the recent statement of ISPR’s director general, Sherpao said he should avoid giving ‘political’ statements. He condemned his remarks as improper and provocative, saying use of the word ‘dowry’ in reference to natural resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a ‘mockery’ of Pashtuns.

He made it clear that Pakhtuns had the legitimate right over their resources and they would use every forum to get that.

Regarding his party’s poor performance in the 2024 election, he claimed elections in the province were conducted under a plan in which nationalist and religious parties were given no space. He said a few days before the elections, the atmosphere changed in favour of PTI when its founding chief was awarded sentence.

He said Imran Khan’s release won’t overcome economic and political crises the country.

Sherpao said unrest and unemployment were increasing in the province while the government was paying no heed to the issue.

The QWP chief said there were external hands behind incidents of terrorism in the country. He said the policymakers would have to go to the root of the terrorism problem to root it out effectively.

He said there was need to keep an eye on external conspiracies against the country, adding Afghanistan could play key role in stamping out militancy in Pakistan.

“Instead of closing doors of negotiations with Afghanistan, dialogue should be held to seek Afghan government’s cooperation in eliminating the menace of terrorism.”

He regretted that ‘through a planned conspiracy’ the people of the province were being pitch against each other. He said the National Action Plan was not being implemented in letter and spirit.

He said the president and the prime minister were limited to only issuing statements of condemnation after every terror act.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024