RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Provincial Chairman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister for Irrigation Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao has stressed for giving more autonomy and powers to smaller provinces units to protect the interest of the federation. He said that KP and FATA masses have rendered meritorious sacrifices in the war against terror but the federal government has adopted step-motherly attitude with them.

He was addressing a public meeting at Zakhel Mattani, Peshawar during a party joining ceremony wherein an important political figure Irshad Khan from PK-3 has announced joining Qaumi Watan Party along with his colleagues and relatives.

The new entrants reposed full confidence in the leadership of Chairman Qaumi Watan Party Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Sikandar Sherpao. Thanking Irshad Khan and his colleagues for joining his party, Sikandar said, “The focus of our party right from the very beginning has been the common man which is why even today our tenure is alive in the hearts of the people.”

He said that the federal government would give a sense of protection to the rights of all the federating units especially the smaller ones and for strengthening of the federation it was imperative to grant more powers to avoid the sense of growing sense of deprivation among them. He further added that despite the 18th amendment, KP is not being given control over its natural resources. Additionally, the federal government is delaying the provision of net hydel arrears to the province in an attempt to halt the development of the province. He clarified that it is important to provide all the federating units in Pakistan with their due rights in order to ensure a strong federation. He stated that if the federal government limits its developmental agenda to Punjab, and ignores the sacrifices of Pakhtun nation, it will have a negative impact on the federation.

He said that the Pakhtun had rendered untold human and material sacrifices for the country in the war against terror but they had not been compensated in proper way which intensified their sense of deprivation. Pushing back Pakhtun and back tracking them showed that it is only teasing Pakhtun he added.

Senior Minister expressed concern over the excessive loadshedding in KP and said that despite the largest producer of Hydro-electric power generation the province had been deprived.

He recalled that Prime Minister in 2013 after assuming the power in general election he had pledged to end loadshedding but this claim did not deliver and proven belied. He said that relations with three neighboring countries were of vital importance and the deterioration of ties was not in the interests of all.

The governments, establishment and people levels contacts were essential to minimize the tension between Pakistan and neighboring countries, he added. He deplored that the growing misunderstanding with neighboring states was inimical for the future of the region.