PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday underlined the need for dialogue to end the political instability as it was undermining the economy.

He made these remarks while talking to the media after attending a ceremony to mark the death anniversary of those who lost their lives in a blast at a mosque in Charsadda’s Sherpao village on December 21, 2007, according to a press release issued here.

It may be recalled that 57 people were martyred and over 100 injured when a blast took place during the Eidul Azha prayers in Sherpao village.

Mr Sherpao paid rich tribute to the martyrs and said that they laid down their lives for the restoration of peace. He added that his party would always remember the sacrifices of the martyrs.

QWP chief pays tribute to martyrs of 2007 mosque blast

He said that law and order in southern districts and elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtukhwa was deteriorating with each passing day.

The veteran politician lauded the holding of a multiparty conference at the Governor’s House recently to discuss the worsening law and order situation in the province, and urged the government to take corrective steps to tackle the growing lawlessness in the region.

He said that even China had expressed concern over the poor law and order in Khyber Pakhtukhwa where its citizens working on various projects had come under attacks.

Mr Sherpao said the nation would not forgive those who had prioritised staging protests rather than taking steps to improve law and order.

Commenting on the prevailing political situation, Aftab Sherpao said that his party would welcome talks between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the government.

However, he added that the negotiations should be held without any preconditions.

To a question, the QWP leader said that there was contradiction in the statements of the PTI leaders about the alleged killings of their party workers during the D-Chowk protest. He said the PTI should have come up with solid proofs about the deaths of its workers.

However, he sympathised with the families of the PTI workers who lost lives in the D-Chowk protest. He said the jailed PTI workers should be released.

He said that Imran Khan’s release could not be secured through staging protests, adding that the PTI should move court to seek relief for him.

Meanwhile, federal interior minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the residence of Aftab Sherpao in Peshawar and discussed with him the prevailing law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During the meeting they agreed that all stakeholders should extend cooperation to restore peace in Kurram district.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024