Sherpao calls for dialogue amid political crisis

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Monday called for holding a grand national dialogue to address the worsening political and security crises.

In a statement, he warned that the ongoing political unrest had reached an alarming level. He added PTI protest and the effort to counter it was costing the country approximately Rs200 billion daily.

Sherpao feared that if this situation continued, the government would be forced to seek additional loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under harsher conditions. This, he stated, would not only deal a severe blow to the national economy but also exacerbate inflation, pushing the people further into deeper poverty and starvation.

The QWP leader criticized the ongoing confrontation between federal and provincial governments, calling it detrimental to national interests.He said the confrontation had economically paralyzed the country.

Sherpao lamented that the federal government had sidelined pressing national issues, including inflation, unemployment, and deteriorating law and order and was focusing on suppressing the PTI protests.

“The provincial government has also devoted its resources to ensuring the success of the protests and securing the release of former prime minister Imran Khan,” he said.Sherpao expressed concern over the alarming security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the southern districts. He also referred to the violence in the Kurram tribal district, where dozens of innocent lives have been lost. He stressed that these challenges necessitated immediate and inclusive dialogue among all political stakeholders to bring stability.

“The ongoing crisis has sidelined critical national issues and compounded the sufferings of the people. A grand national dialogue is imperative to restore political stability and address the pressing economic and security challenges facing the country,” he added.