Hoti questions rationale behind ‘Imrani dharna’

Says PTI govt fails to defend KP rights; asks PM to address apprehensions about CPEC

PESHAWAR: Expressing concern over the “Imrani Dharna” on November 2, Awami National Party (ANP) provincial chief Ameer Haider Hoti Wednesday asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to utilise other forums for his protest instead of blocking cities and paralysing government system.

“The country is faced with serious situation, international pressure and regional tension. In such circumstances, Imran Khan should review his behaviour. He should better move courts for getting his demands accepted,” he said while addressing a press conference after a meeting of the ANP provincial council.

Saying anything could be expected from Imran Khan, said the fresh example of his naïve political attitude was his demand of body-search of the elected prime minister besides accountability. “If he has some personal issues with Nawaz Sharif, he should at least respect the office of the prime minister,” he suggested.

Haider Hoti said instead of following a democratic and legal way, Imran Khan was bent upon staging his own “courts” and implementing the decisions of his choice.  He said the PTI was confused over the most important project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its government has failed to protect the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its people. “There is clear difference in the opinion of Imran Khan and KP Chief Minister over the project as the former expressed satisfaction over the project while the latter is resisting it,” he noted.

He said being the ruling party in the province it was the duty of PTI to protect its rights. “The provincial government and the PTI leadership should be on the same page and should explain their position over the multi billion dollars project,” he argued. The ANP leader said his party welcomed CPEC and development projects associated with it as it was for Pakistan’s development but it also wanted protection of the rights of KP and Balochistan. He vowed to resist any move to deprive smaller provinces of their rights in CPEC.

Flanked by ANP’s senior vice-president Syed Aqil Shah, general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak and information secretary Haroon Bilour, Haider Hoti alleged that certain elements in the federal government were trying to make CPEC controversial.

“If this project became controversial, the people related to it especially Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal would be responsible for it. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself should remove the concerns of the people of smaller provinces in line with promises made by him at the All Parties Conference,” he stressed.

Haider Hoti said the ANP provincial council meeting supported the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into KP and reminded the federal government that any delay in this regard would be harmful. “With the merger of Fata with KP, it would become the second largest province of the country and its shares in the federal resources would be increased,” he pointed out.

He demanded census at the earliest and the constitution of National Finance Commission (NFC) award in line with demographic changes.The ANP leader alleged the 18th and 19th amendments were not being implemented under a conspiracy as the federation is reluctant to give financial resources for the powers devolved to the provinces.