CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao has claimed that while the Punjab government is launching new projects every other day, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is using its resources and energies on holding protests.

He expressed these views while addressing a workers’ convention in Watan Kor Sherpao area here on Friday. The event was part of the preparations for observing the death anniversary of party leader and former KP governor Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao.

Mr Sikandar said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had been ruling the province for the last 11 years, but it failed to work for people’s welfare.

Criticising the amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, he said restrictions on freedom of media were not acceptable under any circumstances. “We want democracy in its true sense,” he argued.

Sikandar said that leaders of workers, farmers and other downtrodden segments of society would be attending the death anniversary of Hayat Sherpao on February 11.

He said Hayat Sherpao rendered invaluable services for the development and progress of the people. “Hayat Sherpao was physically separated from us, but no one can take away his thoughts and politics from us.”

He said by following the footsteps of Hayat Sherpao, QWP would advance his mission of developing the country and the nation. He alleged during the PTI’s 11-year rule, the province had only seen corruption and lawlessness. He said the government had hugely indebted the province during its rule.

Sikandar said the central government had also ignored KP and its claims of improving the economy were hollow as there was no reduction in inflation.

He said without bringing down prices of necessary items, the claims of improvement in economic indicators were meaningless.

The QWP leader said instead of gagging the media, the federal government should improve its performance.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2025