QWP chief says KP not given due rights

CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao said on Sunday that victimising the Pakhtuns and depriving them of rights would deepen their sense of deprivation.

Speaking at a press conference in Umarzai, he said the Pakhtuns were being harassed in the name of security measures. A former nazim Ashiq Ali Khan announced joining the QWP along with his supporters.

Aftab Sherpao said the Pakhtuns were being discriminated against in Punjab and Sindh as if they were not the citizens of this country. “The Pakhtuns have rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of peace. Their services should be acknowledged,” he demanded. He said the QWP had taken up with the quarters concerned the issue of the blocked computerised national identity cards of the Pakhtuns.

He urged the government to accelerate the process to unblock the CNICs of the Pakhtuns as they were faced with a host of problems. “Many people, particularly the Pakhtuns, would not be able to exercise their right to franchise in the next general election if the CNICs were not unblocked,” he maintained. He said that KP was not provided its due share to benefit the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.