CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao expressed deep concern over what he described as a ‘biased’ attitude towards Pakhtuns in Punjab, stating that such a trend was both intolerable and condemnable.

Speaking to the media at Dhakhi, Sherpao alleged that Pakhtuns were being unfairly labelled as ‘terrorists’ in Punjab, adding that this mindset posed a serious threat to the unity of the country.

He said that Pakhtuns, whether engaged in business or labour, had been facing severe hardships and difficulties in the federal capital Islamabad and in the Punjab. Aftab Sherpao stated that the federal government’s decision to check computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of Pakhtuns upon entry to Islamabad had caused significant hardship for them.

Regarding the talks of PTI and the federal government, Sherpao said that both negotiations and a civil disobedience movement from PTI could not go together. He added that it was not the right approach to invite the government for talks while simultaneously advocating for the start of a civil disobedience movement.

The QWP chief expressed deep concern over the poor security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. He stated that, apart from acts of terrorism, these provinces had been facing many problems and difficulties, causing widespread suffering among the people.

He further mentioned that the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been deteriorating day by day. Police and army personnel had been martyred daily in KP, particularly in the southern districts, he regretted. The innocent civilians had also been falling prey to these issues. He added that it was a matter of great regret that both the federal and KP governments had remained silent on the poor law and order situation in the province.

He said that the KP government had been limited to organising long marches, protests, and sit-ins, without bothering to solve the problems of the people. He mentioned that the situation had also worsened in the southern districts, leading to the holding of a multi-party conference (MPC) to address the issue. He added that poor law and order situation would discourage the investors, damaging the economy of the province.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024