Chairman Qaumi Watan Party, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has called for the restoration of administrative and judicial machinery in recently merged Fata areas in KP so as to dole out the benefits of merger to the local people. He said that the KP-Fata merger was a great achievement and utmost efforts should be made to bring them into mainstream.
He was talking to a delegation of QWP Swabi at Watan Kor Peshawar. On the occasion, former MPA Haji Abdullah Khan of Kalabut, Tehsil Lahore Counselor, Ziaullah and ANP leader Shahid Advocate announced to join the QWP along with families and scores of supporters. They reposed confidence in the leadership of Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and party provincial Chairman, Sikandar Sherpao.
Aftab Sherpao welcomed the new entrants in the party, saying that they would give strength to the party. He hoped that they would work for the party cause and spread QWP programme in the nook and corner of Swabi district.
The QWP chief said that after KP-Fata merger, there was greater need to pay more attention to the neglected areas and put them on the path of development. He demanded that handsome funds should be earmarked to bring revolutionary changes in their socio-economic conditions. He said that the federation and provinces like elder brothers should offer sacrifices for the cause Fata in the larger national interest.
Sherpao regretted that the Pakhtuns had suffered immensely due to terrorism and extremism however, they had been ignored which increased their sense of deprivation. He contended that Pakhtuns were the second largest population in the country and they had played vital role national development. Therefore, he added, any step-motherly treatment with them is not only the negation of their sacrifices but it would be disastrous for federation as well. He expressed concern that controversial issues had been brought on the limelight whereas issues of Pakhtuns had been put on backburner.