PESHAWAR: Except the People’s Party which has four MPAs in the Provincial Assembly of NWFP, all other political parties have opposed the transfer of power to the people’s representatives unless complete peace and confidence has been restored in the Eastern Wing of the country.

Of these parties the Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum Group) has been the most vocal in opposing the demand of the People’s Party. Its Chief, Khan Qayyum, has started a campaign of meeting his workers, addressing ... Press conferences throughout the province. ... He wants that power should not be transferred in West Pakistan while East was not mentally prepared for the change.

The largest single party of the Province, the National Awami Party of Wali Khan … has also opposed the piece-meal transfer of power. The efforts of Mr Bhutto during his last visit to Peshawar when he had a meeting with Khan Abdul Wali Khan, centred round seeking co-operation of the NAP to support his demand for transfer of power. But the NAP had its own arguments and Mr Wali Khan is reported to have refused to concede this demand… .

The third political force of the Province, Jamiatul Ulema-i-Islam (Hazarvi Group) has also categorically stated that transfer of power would not be acceptable to the party if done only in one Wing of the country.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021