CHARSADDA: Supporting no-confidence motion against government, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has claimed that opposition parties stand united while allies will soon ditch Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He was addressing a well-attended gathering in Sherpao village here in connection with the 47th death anniversary of former governor and his elder brother Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao. “We are following in the footsteps of Shaheed Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao and will carry forward his mission,” he said.

Representative of National Democratic Movement Afrasiab Khattak, QWP provincial chief Sikandar Khan Sherpao, Hashim Babar and others also addressed the public meeting.

Aftab Sherpao said that Pakistan Democratic Movement had decided to go for no-trust move against government owing to incompetence of Prime Minister Imran Khan, keeping in view sufferings of people.

47th death anniversary of Hayat Mohammad Khan observed

He that said free and fair elections were the only solution to the prevailing situation in the country.

He said price-hike had made life of people miserable.

The government, he said, had again raised electricity tariff by Rs3.9 per unit and it was considering to further increase prices of petroleum products by Rs18 per litre.

Ridiculing prime minister for giving awards to his ministers, the QWP leader said that Imran Khan should ask the nation about his own performance first.

“The patience of people is wearing thin. They want to get rid of this hybrid government,” he said.

He also flayed the provincial government, saying it compromised over the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that poor economic situation adversely affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The QWP leader said that his party had played key role in the passage of 18th Amendment. He said that 18th Amendment was first step towards provincial autonomy.

“We want more rights for the province. QWP wants economically strong provinces,” he added.

Mr Sherpao said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered the most in PTI government as the province did not receive its due rights.

He said that government wanted to rollback 18th Amendment but QWP would resist such a move.

The federal government, he said, should take along all the federating units in decision-making. He said that QWP was striving for a new social contract to ensure the rights of the smaller provinces.

Mr Sherpao said that post-August 15 scenario in Afghanistan impacted the region. He appealed to the world community to extend relief to the Afghans on humanitarian grounds.

The QWP leader said that reforms in former Fata were not introduced in letter and spirit. He said that people of merged districts were suffering. He also expressed concerns over deteriorating law and order situation in the merged districts.

Speaking on the occasion, Afrasiab Khan said that survival of the country was linked with democracy.

He said that free and fair elections were need of the hour to get rid of the ‘selected and incompetent’ government and restore real democracy in the country.

Mr Khattak said that once again war-like situation was being created to plunge the region into instability and lawlessness. He alleged that conspiracies were being hatched against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and 18th Amendment.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022