Sherpao for joint efforts to restore peace in KP

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday said that all political forces should join hands to discuss ways and means to bring durable peace to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a gathering in Halimzai tehsil in Mohmand tribal district, he said that law and order had deteriorated in the province, particularly in the southern belt and the merged tribal districts.

“Peace is a prerequisite for development, therefore, the government should make concerted efforts to maintain law and order,” he said, adding that people felt insecure in the prevailing security situation.

Noted political figure and president of Ittehad Mohmand Qabail Malik Saleem Sardar announced joining the QWP along with his supporters and family members.

Criticising the provincial government, the QWP leader said that the PTI had been ruling KP for the last 13 years, but it was least bothered to work for the welfare of the people. “The PTI is more focused on the release of its jailed leader than delivering on the promises made to the people,” he added.

On the demand for the creation of more provinces, Aftab Sherpao said that the people had lost faith in the government as it failed to honour the pledges made to the people of the ex-Fata before merger.

“Before the merger, we were hoping that merging the tribal areas into KP will help create opportunities for the tribal people and that they would have access to health and education facilities, but that did not happen because the government reneged on its pledges and did not provide the promised funds,” he added.

He said that repeated experiments were conducted in the past by successive governments with no tangible results. He called for identifying loopholes to reform the system in vogue instead of experimenting with it.

Aftab Sherpao said that the 18th Amendment was introduced to devolve various ministries to the provinces, but the landmark legislation was not implemented in letter and spirit. He said that the federal government must slash its expenditure and adopt austerity measures.