Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has expressed concern over the “plight” of Pashtun in the country, saying that they have been pushed against the wall. Addressing a delegation of Akhakhel tribe at Watan Kor, Peshawar, he said that Pashtun had been unnecessarily harassed on various flimsy pretexts, which heightened their sense of deprivation. The delegation apprised Sherpao of their problems, especially the blockade of national identity cards. He assured the delegation that CNIC blockade issue would soon be resolved. Referring to the FATA’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he said dilly dallying in FATA-KP merger would be a blow to war on terror. “Undue harassment of Pashtun in Punjab and Sindh is unacceptable.” He said that such moves would weaken the federation. He said that the population census should be carried out in the larger national interest. He said that the population of FATA had been shown lesser than the actual one, which was a great injustice. Pashtun, he said should be given due share in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as it would usher in an era of progress and prosperity. He said that Pashtun had rendered remarkable sacrifices for Pakistan but they had not been properly compensated.