PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has accused the federal government of intentionally neglecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the economic plans.

He said that the problems being faced by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were increasing owing to the discriminatory policies of the federal government and inability of the provincial government as well.

Speaking at a public meeting in Tehkal here on Sunday, the QWP chief said that the rulers were least interested to play any effective role for wellbeing of the militancy-hit Pakhtuns. The problems of Pakhtuns were getting complicated with each passing day, he added.

Mr Sherpao said that Pakhtuns were second largest population in the country and they had rendered matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism to save the nation and the country but the rulers adopted step-motherly treatment with them for unknown reasons.

If the government did not change its policies and kept the people deprived of their due rights, it would be sheer injustice on the part of rulers and the nation would not forgive them, he said.

Mr Sherpao expressed concerns over the frequent incidents of terrorism and said that provincial government failed to fulfil its prime duty as the ministers had focused attention only on local government elections and their own interests. He said that leaving the citizens at the mercy of terrorists was unjust.

Says provincial govt also failed to fulfil its prime duty

The QWP chief said that on one hand Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf was beating the drum of transparency and impartiality but on the other its provincial government was using development funds in different areas and changing polling stations to get results of the local government elections according to its wishes.

He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was producing electricity above its needs but even then its people were subjected to unscheduled and prolonged power loadshedding which had badly affected the local economy and lives of the people.

Mr Sherpao said that the centre was not ready to pay heed to the plight of the people in the province. The change in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was live example of the discriminatory policy of the federal government, he added.

“We will not sit silent over these injustices and will raise voice for the rights of the people at all costs,” the QWP chief said. He added that his party was ready to take firm stand on real issues of the province.

Mr Sherpao urged the people to join hands with representatives of QWP and extend full support to its candidates in the forthcoming local government elections so that collective efforts could be made for the rights of the Pakhtuns.

QWP Peshawar chairman Abrar Ahmed and other office-bearers of the party also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

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