KP Assembly witnesses heated debate on CPEC

Lawmakers ask PM to fulfill promise on western route

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday again witnessed a heated debate over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) after the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan reportedly disclosed that the western route was not part of the multi-billion project.

The ruling alliance of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) accused the federal government of not honoring its commitment to build the western route passing through different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) held the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government responsible for failing to focus on this vital issue.Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan, who belongs to the JI, told the House it was the “China-Punjab Economic Corridor.”

“This is a very serious matter and the speaker should suspend the routine agenda and allow the members to speak on this important issue,” he said.He added the project became controversial after the Chinese ambassador informed Chief Minister Pervez Khattak that the western route was not part of the $46 billion CPEC. 

The minister recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had assured the political and religious parties at the All Parties Conference in Islamabad that western route was not only a part of CPEC but it would also be constructed on priority basis.

He said the Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal too had assured the KP government and politicians on several occasions that the western route was a part of the CPEC.  “It is unfortunate that the federal government is not telling the truth,” he stressed.

Inayatullah said: “It’s a conspiracy to usurp the rights of small federating units and it would weaken the Federation.“We want the federal government to tell us whether or not the western route is part of the CPEC.”

He said his party is ready to launch a massive protest movement against the federal government for keeping the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the dark.  “If the KP government calls for an agitation, the JI will be its part,” he said.

PPP’s parliamentary leader Mohammad Ali Shah reminded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to fulfill the commitment he had made about the western route.He said the PPP would be a part of any protest movement if launched against the federal government.QWP lawmaker Bakht Baidar Khan said the Pakhtuns had rendered sacrifices for Pakistan but unfortunately they were denied their due rights.

“A Pakhtun has neither burnt the national flag nor hatched any conspiracy against Pakistan. Then why are we being constantly ignored in the implementation of the mega projects. Why our rights are not being given to us,” he asked.

Asked the federal government not to divide the nation, he urged the rulers to stop step-motherly attitude towards the Pakhtuns.JUI-F MPA Mufti Janan said that despite rendering sacrifices for the country, Pakhtuns were being killed for no reason. “The PTI has so far spent most of its time on protest sit-ins and marches,” he added.

PML-N parliamentary leader Aurangzeb Nalotha said the people had rejected the politics of protests.He said it was the fourth time that CPEC had been raised on the floor of the House. “It reflects that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly takes up only those issues that go against the federal government,” he asserted.He added the PML-N would work for provincial rights. He, however, said Pakistan’s enemies didn’t want CPEC to be completed.