PESHAWAR, Feb 8: Chief of his own faction of Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that he would act as a bridge between the provinces and centre to protect the rights of the provinces and ensure harmony among the federating units.

Addressing a public meeting at his native town Sherpao, Charsadda, on Saturday, the federal minister for water and power, Northern Areas and inter provincial coordination Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said that he would not compromise on provincial autonomy and the constitutional rights of the provinces.

He said that his party would work for the prosperity of the people and solidarity of the country, a sacred mission left by Shaheed Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao killed in a bomb blast in 1975.

Mr Sherpao said some political parties thought that after the killing of Hayat Sherpao the party would be eliminated. “But Hayat Sherpao is the name of a mission, which will continue for ever in the country,” he added.

Without naming the Awami National Party, Sherpao condemned the life attempt on PMA Alamzeb Omerzai and criticized the political opponents for adopting violence in politics.

Mr Sherpao pledged that he would work for the coordination between the provincial and federal government. “Provincial autonomy is the top on his party manifesto and I will for the rights of NWFP,” he added.

He also announced that the PPP-S would launch a campaign to reorganize the party from March 1, which would continue for three years. He also hinted at party election shortly.

Earlier, through a unanimous resolution presented by PPP-S finance secretary Anisazeb, the party urged the United Nations to find an amicable solution to the Iraq standoff. It asked the Iraq government to fully cooperate with the UN inspector’s team and avert the possible US attack.

Through another resolution, the party demanded of the Afghanistan government to release all the prisoner languishing in various jails and particularly held by Uzbek warlord Abdur Rashid Dostum at Shabarghan prison.

The party also expressed concern over the registration of Pakistanis in the United States and asked the Bush administration to review its decision.

Through another resolution, the PPP-S condemned life attempt on PMA Alamzeb Omerzai, wounding the party stalwart critically. The party demanded of the government to arrest the criminals at the earliest.

Others who spoke on the occasion include, PPP-S NWFP President Ahmad Hassan Khan, general secretary Iqbal Hussain Khattak, senior vice-president Ghani Dad Khan, Punjab president Zafar Awan, general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F Ghulam Ali and others.