Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahamd Khan Sherpao has said that the menace of terrorism could be eliminated if both Pakistan and Afghanistan establish cordial and friendly bilateral relations. He urged the federal government to focus on the implementation of National Action Plan and make Zarb-e-Azb operation successful for bringing an end to the menace of terrorism and extremism from all parts of the country.
Speaking at a public gathering held at Tehsil Shabqadar in Charssada on Sunday, Sherpao also asked the federal government to play a positive and proactive role in establishing strong diplomatic ties with the neighbouring Muslim country.
He said that the Pakhtun belt had remained in a state of turmoil for the last three decades due to power vacuum. "Now, it is the time to forget about the past experiences and concentrate on the future of Pakhtuns living on either side of the border," he added.
He said that the act of ignoring Pakhtun leadership while formulating foreign policies in the past had created a sense of deprivation and uncertainty among the Pakhtuns population.
Referring to a number of attacks on his life, the QWP chief said that he was not afraid of such attack and, as such, he would continue to fight for the rights of Pakhtuns as well as for bringing peace and prosperity in the region. Talking about unannounced and prolonged load-shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sherpao said that although the province was producing electricity more than its requirements, its people were being subjected to unannounced and prolonged load-shedding.
Accusing the provincial government of failing in getting net profit of power production from federal government in the last two years, he said that such an act on the part of KP government had created a negative impact on the economy of the province.
Voicing his concern over changing of the route of Gwadar-Kashghar Economic Corridor, he said QWP would put up strong resistance if the Corridor's route from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was changed.
He was, however, of the view that sufferings of KP people and tribesmen would come to an end considerably with the completion of the economic corridor.
At the outset, Sherpao urged the people belonging to all walks of life to take a united stand against enemies of the country.