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Published 04 Nov, 2013 07:47am

KP govt to block Nato supplies: CM

MANSEHRA, Nov 3: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would block all sorts of Nato supplies after the passage of a resolution in this regard from the provincial assembly.

“We are moving the provincial assembly to get passed a resolution seeking ban on the use of our soil for transportation of Nato supplies and we would follow it in letter and spirit. We will fulfil whatever commitment Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan would make without considering its consequences,” said Mr Khattak while speaking at a public gathering in Sum Alliamung area here on Sunday.

Known political leader Shahzada Gusatsab announced to join the PTI on this occasion. Besides, on the call of traders action committee a black day was observed during the CM’s visit against the transfer of DPO Abdul Ghafoor Afridi.

The chief minister told the gathering that the session of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was summoned on Monday (today) in which the resolution demanding ban on Nato supplies was likely to be passed.

“We would first take into confidence the leaders of other political parties in the KP Assembly on the issue as people of province wanted it (blocking Nato supplies) and we would come up to their expectations,” said Mr Khattak.

He said that the PTI had extended unconditional support to the government’s dialogue with Taliban, but a single drone strike sabotaged their sincere efforts.

Mr Khattak said that rulers at the federal level should fulfil the promises they had made during the election to address the core issue of terrorism. He said that the resolution concerning creation of Hazara province was lying with the provincial assembly secretariat and it would soon be passed with a majority.

“We would pass the Hazara province resolution with a thumping majority and we hope that the federal government would also follow the suit for giving the status of a separate province to Hazara,” said Mr Khattak.

The chief minister said that local government system being introduced in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces was an eyewash as people were not being empowered, but the system to be introduced by his government would be for real empowerment of people at grassroots.

“We are going to introduce a local government system which would give power to masses to run their daily affairs and it would be a real change,” he claimed.

He said that in past people used to receive kickbacks and easy load of millions for whatever they did, but nobody could point fingers at his ministers and government for any such act.

“It is not surprising that father of the former chief minister is levelling serious allegations of corruption and kickbacks against the previous ANP government,” Mr Khattak said and claimed that hands of the current provincial rulers were clean and they had been working for the betterment of people.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gusatsab said that his decision to join the PTI was based on public demand, as the party was aiming at empowerment of people in its real sense.

Meanwhile, on the call of the action committee the traders observed a black day against the transfer of DPO Abdul Ghafoor Afridi from Mansehra. Black flags were hoisted on shops and markets on the arrival of chief minister as a mark of protest against the KP government’s decision to transfer the officer. —Correspondent

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