Asfandyar asks govt to honour promises on CPEC route

CHARSADDA: Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on Thursday said that the government had not honoured the promises it had made in the all parties conference about the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and they won’t participate in any APC in future.
Addressing a party function at Nisatta area near here, he urged the government to honour the promises about the CPEC route. He said that no doubt the project would usher in an era of prosperity in the country. “But the decisions made during the APC about the route should be honored,” he added.
A good number of people and party leaders attended the functions. Asfandyar, who was the main speaker on the occasion, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was brought into power under a conspiracy. He said that ‘angels’ gave votes to the PTI. He said that that PTI-led provincial government was victimising its political rivals in the name of accountability.
The ANP chief maintained that the operation Zarb-e-Azb had no doubt improved peace, but complete eradication of terrorism was not possible through operations. He said that without peace in Afghanistan, peace cannot be maintained in Pakistan. “Therefore, it is necessary for both the countries to sit together and make joint efforts for peace.”
Asfandyar said that both the countries had inked an agreement on the occasion of Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan that both the countries won’t allow the use of their soil against each other. But unfortunately the agreement could not be implemented, he added.
Asfandyar supported the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that they wanted unity among the Pakhtuns and for the purpose they were supporting the merger.
The ANP leader condemned the statements in favour of Kalabagh dam. He said that it was matter of life and death for the Pakhtuns and they won’t allow construction of the dam.
He was of the opinion that conspiracies were being hatched about the 18th Amendment. But they would not tolerate any intervention in the amendment that provided autonomy and rights to the provinces, he maintained.