The smaller provinces will not support repealing of 17th Amendment unless parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms evolve consensus on addressing issue of provincial autonomy including renaming of NWFP, says Awami National Party Spokesman (ANP) Senator Zahid Khan. He said out of 27 political parties 25 were supporting renaming NWFP and only two parties from one province were opposing the move.
Zahid Khan said on one hand, PML(N) was saying that Balochistan package would not address issue of the province while on the other it was silent on important issue of provincial autonomy. "If parliamentary committee fails to evolve consensus on provincial autonomy, it would send a negative massage to Balochistan".
He said for smaller provinces' issue of provincial autonomy was more important than 17th Amendment. "It is not fair to separate 17th amendment from the core issue of the provincial autonomy and renaming of NWFP", he said. Replying to another question, he said consensus on the 7th NFC Award was a historic achievement of the present federal and provincial governments.
He said all credit goes to the wise, accommodative and collective wisdom of political leadership, which evolved consensus on outstanding issues. Zahid Khan said all the four provinces played positive role during NFC meetings and the federation also showed a remarkable flexibility to accommodate the longstanding demands of provinces.
He said the award would create harmony, unity, and new strong relationships among provinces. Replying to another question, he said criticism over recent address of President Asif Ali Zardari to his party workers was unjustified and inappropriate. He said some journalists were criticising President's address in Gari Khuda Baksh which is something in violation of their profession norms.
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