ANP opposes division of KP in name of new provinces: Iftikhar

Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Wednesday said his party would not accept division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the name of creating new provinces.
Addressing a press conference at the end of three-day meetings of the provincial cabinet, working committee and council, he said Pakhtunkhwa was ANP’s land, identity and historical heritage, and any attempt to damage its geographic, political and historical character would be resisted.
He said no conspiracy to occupy KP’s resources and mineral wealth in the name of new provinces would be allowed to succeed. If new provinces were to be created, they should be on the basis of nationalities, he added.
Mr Hussain said terrorism was not a product of any province or language but a national issue. He said people of KP had rendered the most sacrifices, with over 1,300 ANP workers and leaders targeted. Blaming KP’s people while sitting in Punjab was unjust, he said, adding that causes, facilitators and networks behind terrorism should be examined.
He said the federal and provincial governments should stop shifting responsibility and take serious steps for public security. Establishing peace was a constitutional duty, not a favour, he said.
The ANP leader said KP could not be seen only through a security lens. He demanded full implementation of the National Action Plan and steps to address poverty, unemployment and lack of education.
He said ANP would not accept any armed lashkar, private force or militia in the name of peace. Arming civilians against terrorists was no solution, he added.
He said the solution to current crises lay in supremacy of the Constitution, parliament and all institutions staying within constitutional limits. He said there would be no compromise on the 18th Amendment, provincial autonomy and NFC Award, and demanded immediate announcement of a new NFC Award.
He said promises made to merged districts under the 25th Amendment must be fulfilled and infrastructure rehabilitated.
Mr Hussain said KP was facing a severe financial crisis while the provincial government’s priority was release of one prisoner. He said universities were unable to even pay salaries and demanded an emergency package.
He also demanded an end to hurdles in wheat and flour supply from Punjab, saying Article 151 did not allow inter-provincial trade barriers.
He said tobacco should be declared a formal crop and farmers ensured fair prices.
He demanded payment of net hydel profit and gas dues to KP and opening of border trade routes with Afghanistan through diplomacy.