The Pakistan's social order could take the trail of Tunisia and Egypt public uprising if the government failed to clamp down on rising corruption and underpin the falling economy, warns the ANP's federal legislator, Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti.
In an exclusive interview with Business Recorder on Wednesday, the visiting legislator said the ANP's central leadership had altogether detached itself from troubles being faced by the people.
The dissident ANP leader and the former federal minister for social welfare said that the bad economic condition of a common man in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa was paving a way for a complete unrest, as crime for ransom was already on the rise in the province. He questioned that where the foreign aid in billions of dollar had gone, which it received after the war on terror began, alleging that "not a single penny has been spent on the nation uplift or on infrastructure development."
"The middle class is gradually but persistently losing its economic stability for every day rise in the prices of essential commodities, gas and electricity, which pushed even a sound-income earner in financial chaos," Hoti noted. He expected the newly renamed province would be the first to embrace the Tunisia and Egypt style of public incitement against the government for the soaring inflation and reducing sources of income.
"If the government wants to prevent the nation from turning outlaw, then it should concentrate on generating economic opportunities so that people could live a better life," the former Federal Minister suggested. Cases of abduction against ransom in the province had reached its historic peak, while the ANP leadership has fully abandoned its people since it has assumed the power after February 18 polls, he criticised.
He charged the ANP-led government in the province had not only abandoned Swat after military operation against militants but also the ANP leadership shunned to support the valley's people after catastrophic floods. He maintained the federal government had also deliberately neglected development in FATA region, which the US war on terror had baldy destroyed with killing of thousands of people.
"The foreign billion of dollars assistance the government has received but like Swat, no projects for peoples' uplift has been undertaken in FATA region," Hoti said. He also warned the government of bloodshed in the province if it continued its sledgehammer policy against the militants, saying "The US is choosing good Taliban for talks to end the decade long war, then why should we continue the fight."
Hoti urged the federal and provincial governments to recognise the fast-changing ground realities and immediately resumed talks with militants for a durable peace in the war-torn province. He said the war on terror had swallowed up at least 0.15 million people either in the province or contiguous FATA region, apart from forcing millions other to migrate to parts of the country. For Karachi settlement, Hoti said, there should be talks for a durable peace in the country's largest city, as Pukhtuns had a greater presence with lucrative businesses.
He added, "I am planning to form a grand Jirga consisting of Pushtun leaders from different political parties including Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Sirajul Haq, Aftab Sherpao, Ameer Muqam and Mehmood Khan Achakzai to seek the solution to Karachi's chaos." Asfandyar Wali should join its people in the most trouble phase of history and help them attain their economic stability and peace, instead of staying away from its forefather's soil, he advised.