PESHAWAR:Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday claimed that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of the opposition parties, had planned to launch a fresh countrywide campaign to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led federal government.

He added that leaders of the PDM members would meet on May 29 to discuss the plan and take other important decisions.

Mr Sherpao told a presser at the party’s secretariat here that efforts were under way to clear ‘misunderstandings’ of the opposition alliance’s parties about the government ouster plans.

He said the people were ready to take to the streets due to the rising prices of essential commodities and joblessness.

The QWP chief demanded that fresh general elections be held in the country without ‘outside interference’ to allow the people’s real representatives to form the government to resolve their basic issues.

He said the ruling PTI had failed to deliver on its election promises during the last three years to the misery of the people. Mr Sherpao said Prime Minister Imran Khan was ‘deceiving’ the nation by claiming that mafias were responsible for looting the exchequer.

QWP chief insists people ready to agitate over rising prices, joblessness

“We want to tell Imran Khan that he is surrounded by mafias that are responsible for the sugar, petrol and flour crises,” he said.

The QWP chief said despite making tall claims about the elimination of corruption, the PTI government faced multiple graft allegations.

He demanded a judicial probe into the alleged irregularities in the use of Covid-19 funding, Rawalpindi Ring Road project, and LNG scam.

Mr Sherpao condemned the Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine and said innocent Palestinian women and children were martyred in the recent Gaza air strikes.

He said though the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had passed a resolution condemning Israeli attacks, the Muslim countries should come up with a joint strategy to find a permanent solution to the Palestine issue.

The QWP leader also asked the federal government to honour the pledges it made to tribal people while merging Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The tribal people rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the restoration of peace in the country and therefore, the government should take steps to mitigate their sufferings,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said the government had pledged to release Rs100 annually for the development of the merged tribal districts during the next 10 years but hadn’t acted accordingly.

“The promised funds should be released to tribal districts under the National Finance Commission Award for the reconstruction of infrastructure and launch of development schemes in the neglected region.

He also demanded fresh population census in the country.

Mr Sherpao flayed the government over failure to act against the people involved in sugar, flour and petrol crises despite repeated promises. He said the poor people were badly hit by the record hike in the prices of essential goods.

On the occasion, Malik Haji Zaman Masozai, Mohabat Khan, Haji Nawab Khan Ali Sherzai, Haji Arbab, Malik Hikmat Shah, Malik Latif Masozai, Malik Rahmat Gul, Malik Essa Khan, Malik Mohammada Khan, Malik Mena Gul, Malik Zamurd Khan, Malik Nawabdin Sherzai and Malik Hukam Khan from Kurram tribal district announced the joining of the QWP along with scores of supporters. They were previously associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2021