KARACHI, June 19: Awami National Party on Wednesday opposed the government’s decision to increase the number of National Assembly seats and termed it a step to harm the interest of smaller provinces.

“We oppose the idea to increase National Assembly’s seats, which is aimed at providing benefits to provinces enjoying advantage of more population than the other provinces,” said ANP President Asfandyar Wali speaking at the Bacha Khan Peace Conference, organized by his party.

He said the decision would do injustice with the smaller provinces and strengthen the sense of deprivation among them.

He emphasized upon the government to increase the seats in Senate with the same ratio.

The ANP leader said peace could not be achieved until nations were provided their rights and their deprivation was addressed.

He backed the efforts of the Afghan rulers and asserted that Loya Jirga was the only solution to the problems of Afghanistan.

He said tension on the eastern border was a political issue which could never be resolved through armed measures. He said the political parties were capable of solving the issue.—PPI