PESHAWAR, April 25: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Thursday said the May 11 elections were likely to lead the country to uncertain political situation as no political party would have absolute majority in the national and provincial assemblies.
During a ‘Meet the Press’ programme of Peshawar Press Club, the QWP chief said his party favoured formation of coalition governments in the country but would support only those political forces, which could really address issues and challenges faced by the country.
He said most of the current national issues, including terrorism, were created during the five years of the previous government and that the last government was also to blame for the killing and displacement of thousands of innocent people in the country.Mr Sherpao said Awami National Party’s claim about restoration of peace in the province was a pack of lies as presence of security forces in Swat clearly showed that ANP had done nothing for the purpose.
“The credit for restoration of peace goes to security forces,” he said.
The QWP chief said the holding of elections on time was in the interest of the country and its people as it would help steer the country out of the crises created by the previous government over the last five years.
He said democracy could be established only if free, fair and impartial elections were held and that there was no alternate to the elections to resolve the current national issues and challenges.
Mr Sherpao criticised Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party for failing to establish durable peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, saying the former coalition government never paid proper heed to the development and usurped huge funds in the name of law and order.
He said the all parties conference convened by ANP and Parliamentary Committee on National Security of the previous government were a failure on how to counter terrorism.
The QWP chief said presence of security forces in Malakand division and tribal region indicated that the government had no writ there and therefore, the people frequently criticised the former rulers. He said his party would make all-out efforts to restore peace in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, after coming to power.
Mr Sherpao linked peace in Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stability in Afghanistan and said the post-2014 situation could be critical for Pakistan and the entire South Asian region as the US had planned to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in 2014.“The situation demands proper planning on part of our government to handle it,” he said.
He said Election Commission of Pakistan should take note of advertisements of various political parties on electronic media as the government was funding some political parties in their elections campaign.
The QWP chief stressed the need for timely holding of the election, saying delay in the electoral process could worsen the situation in the country.
He said there needed honest and sincere leadership to tackle issues confronting the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and therefore, the people should reject looters and elect only those who were capable of addressing the key issues confronting the country.