NOWSHERA, Nov 3: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti requested the courts on Saturday not to revive the controversial issue of construction of Kalabagh Dam as three elected provincial assemblies had already rejected the project.

“I am obeying each and every verdict of courts but being chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and worker of Awami National Party, I am not ready to approve construction of Kalabagh Dam as it has been vehemently opposed by Sindh, Balochistan and KP,” Mr Hoti told participants of a public meeting in Dag Ismail Khel village near Pabbi.

Daud Khan Khattak, former nazim of Nowshera, quit Pakistan People’s Party and joined Awami National Party on the occasion.

The meeting was also addressed by ANP provincial president Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain party’s general secretary Arbab Tahir Khan, Nowshera district president Ihrar Khattak and Daud Khan Khattak.

The chief minister appealed to the Lahore High Court not to touch the controversial issues especially Kalabagh Dam as they could not allow its construction at any cost. He advised the government to build Basha or Munda dams instead.

Mr Hoti said they were ready to offer any sacrifice for peace and integrity of country, claiming they had been waging a ‘Jihad’ against militancy. He asked people to unite under the umbrella of Awami National Party to put the province in the right direction. “Peace could be restored by following the philosophy of non-violence of great leader Bacha Khan,” he said.

The chief minister said Awami National Party would make next government with support of any political party as they served the people in every district without any discrimination.

ANP’s provincial president Afrasiab Khattak said the party’s workers and leaders had rendered matchless sacrifices to stem tide of militancy and safeguard the people against miscreants. The government, he said was ready to talk to insurgents if they first laid down arms.

Information minister Mian Iftikhar said it was unfortunate that the terrorists had been attacking mosques, shrines and other religious places and targeting innocent people. However, he expressed determination to defeat terrorism.

Mr Iftikhar termed the public gathering at Pabbi beginning of election campaign and thanked the family of Daud Khan Khattak for joining the ANP, which would make the party stronger in the district.