CHARSADDA, Feb 8: Chairman of his own faction of Pakistan People’s Party Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that he will launch a movement to restore peace in the region. Addressing a public meeting, held here on Wednesday to observe the 37th death anniversary of former governor Hayat Mohammad Khan, he said that they would take concrete steps from the platform of Qaumi Ulasi Tehrik (National People’s Movement) to ensure peace.

Mr Sherpao said that they would try to turn the war-like situation in the region into an opportunity for prosperity and development.

He alleged that federal government meted out discriminatory treatment to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while the provincial government was involved in the ‘wholesale’ of jobs.

The PPP-S chief said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was replete with natural resources but the government deprived its people of their due rights.

He said that it was a pity that President Asif Ali Zardari did not pay a single visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during his entire rule. The prime minister paid several visits to the province but he did not take any practical step for its development, he said.

He said that it was discrimination against the province and its people. He added that people were not ready to suffer from power loadshedding anymore.

Mr Sherpao said that increase in prices of daily use commodities had made life difficult for poor, who could not arrange two square meals a day. The federal and provincial governments were passing resolutions to prolong their rule, he said. Such resolutions and steps would pave the way for more corruption, he added.

The PPP-S chief said that all the political parties should sit together and devise a strategy to ensure a neutral caretaker set-up in the country to hold free, fair and transparent elections.

PPP-S general secretary Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli, provincial president Sikandar Sherpao, MPA Mohammad Ali Khan, former MPAs Bakht Baidar Khan and Saleem Khan, Mazdoor Kissan Party president Afzal Khamosh, PPP-S labour wing president Faqir Hussain Lala, Hamid Khan Turangzai and other leaders were present on the occasion. They paid rich tributes to the slain former governor and eulogised his services for the welfare and prosperity of the people and the province.