PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party has advised federal government against succumbing to any kind of pressure contrary to the provisions of Constitution in the negotiations with International Monetary Fund (IMF) for obtaining loan.

QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao in a statement here on Saturday said that federal government should not accept the IMF’s conditions compromising national security and sovereignty.

He said that IMF was exerting pressure on federal government to review National Financial Commission Award, which was violation of the 18th Amendment and against the spirit of the provincial autonomy.

Sikandar Sherpao said that government must not accept every demand of IMF for the sake of securing financial assistance. He said that such demands were tantamount to interference in the country’s constitutional and internal affairs.

Vowing to protect the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, he said that QWP workers and leaders would foil such conspiracies. He said that QWP would not allow anyone to usurp the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and make a compromise on the constitutional matters.

Sikandar Sherpao said that strong provinces guaranteed a robust federation. He said that QWP would spare no effort to protect the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2024