PESHAWAR, July 15: Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has criticised the Awami National Party-led provincial government for neglecting Pakhtuns and alleged that Pakhtuns were kept backward under a well-organised conspiracy.

Speaking at a party meeting in Hayatabad the other day, the PPP-S chief said the people were not ready to tolerate the government any longer and therefore, the rulers should admit their failure and step down without delay.

He said the prices of consumer goods had been escalating to the misery of common man barely making ends meet.

“Pakistan is an agrarian economy but the government is not ready to resolve the growers’ problems. The case of tobacco growers is a glaring example of negligence on part of the ruling parties,” he said.

Mr Sherpao demanded the growers’ representation in Pakistan Tobacco Board, saying it will help resolve the issues and challenges faced by growers. He said the problems faced by commoners were increasing with each passing day but the rulers were busy in loot and plunder of national wealth.

“Corruption has overshadowed everything,” he said.

The PPP-S chief said the country was gripped by crises, especially economic one, and the worst sufferers of them were Pakhtuns. He added that militancy and flashfloods had badly affected the life and property of Pakhtuns.

Mr Sherpao criticised the government over failure to rehabilitate internally displaced persons, who, he said, felt angry and deprived under the circumstances.

He said Awami National Party had always claimed to be the champion of the rights of Pakhtuns but it had miserably failed to prove it during the four-year rule in the province.

The PPP-S leader said the energy crisis had made the life of the people miserable as on one hand, they suffered from serious energy crisis and on the other, business activities had come to a standstill.

“In the next elections, the people will reject the ruling clique and elect us to power,” he said.

He said after forming government, PPP-S would take solid steps for public welfare by overcoming economic and energy crises.

PPP-S leaders, including MPA Sikandar Sherpao, Rasheed Khan, Fazal Khaliq, Humayun Khilgi, Wajid Khan, Wilayat Bacha, Ziarat Khan, Faiz Mohammad and Zerullah, were also present on the occasion.