Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said the Panama leaks have diverted government’s attention from important matters to other issues, and called upon both ruling and the opposition parties to finalise the term of reference (ToRs) for the judicial commission to settle this issue once and for all. Addressing a press conference at Watan Kor on Sunday, Sherpao said the Panamagate caused a political and economic stagnation in the country. “It is indeed a big issue for all of us, but the smaller provinces have many other issues as well that need attention of the federal government,” he said. Sherpao said the tug of war between the federal and the provincial governments had been continuing since May 11, 2013 general election. He said the federation should not be biased towards the people of the smaller provinces because this approach would weaken the federation. Talking about the Pak-Afghan relations, the QWP chief said the killing of Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour added fuel to the fire. He said that Mansour’s killing might have a negative impact on the upcoming meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group meeting. “To me, there is no hope the QCG will be able to resolve the Afghan issue after the killing of Mansour,” Sherpao said. Emphasising the unity of the Pakhtuns, Sherpao said the entire nation was waiting for a report of the FATA Reforms Committee that would decide the fate of the people of the FATA. He said the FATA should be merged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to bring the tribesmen into the mainstream and make the voice of the Pakhtuns stronger. Highlighting the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, the QWP chief said the Chinese government planned to develop its remote areas through this project.