PESHAWAR: Chairman Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has demanded that Local Government elections in FATA should be held this year in addition to extending the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and High Court to the Tribal Areas. While addressing a joining ceremony in Utmanzai, District Charsadda, the Chairman QWP demanded due representation for FATA in the Provincial Assembly in the general elections of 2018 adding that the time has come to put an end to the constant exploitation of people in FATA. Sherpao also expressed concern over the exploitation of the smaller provinces by the Punjab dominated federal government and also demanded Provincial Autonomy as per the 18thamendment. He stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the largest producer of Natural gas and oil in Pakistan and that the province should be given complete control over its natural resources in order to put an end to the feelings of deprivation among people of the province. He expressed his party’s support for an independent and sovereign Afghanistan adding that a stable and unified neighbor country was vital for peace in the country and the region. “We oppose all steps to divide and destabilize Afghanistan. Qaumi Watan Party would like to see a sovereign, unified and friendly Afghanistan. The federal government in Pakistan should start taking sincere measures for developing diplomatic relations with Afghanistan”, he added. The Chairman also demanded due share for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the CPEC project adding that the political parties of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be taken into confidence over the share of KP in the CPEC project. He added that the federal government should take confidence building measures and ensure transparency regarding the provincial share in the project. The Chairman further clarified that without the provision of a conducive invest climate, development in the province would be a delusion. He stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the largest producer of electricity in Pakistan but was still faced with uncontrolled and unannounced load shedding. The chairman demanded up gradation of the transmission lines in the province in order to put an end to load shedding thereby providing a friendly investment climate. Aftab Sherpao expressed his firm conviction that QWP will fight for the rights of Pakhtoons and will raise voice against exploitation of the people of his province on every platform. He added that QWP will emerge as the only representative of Pakhtoons in the general elections of 2018.