CHARSADDA: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the provincial government is being run remotely from jail, while apparently referring to founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan, who has been languishing behind bars for over a year.

He expressed these views while speaking at a ceremony held here the other day to mark the martyrdom anniversary of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Hayat Mohammad Khan Sherpao.

QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Khan Sherpao and other leaders were also present.

Aftab Sherpao said that a national dialogue was necessary to eliminate allegations of rigging in elections and ensure free and fair polls in the country.

He added that Imran’s letter to the army chief was an undemocratic move.

“Due to the worsening law and order situation, people’s movement and travel in the southern districts of the province has completely halted,” Sherpao claimed.

He said that the provinical government’s attention was focused on protests and sit-ins instead of resolving the people’s problems.

The QWP leader said that Hayat Mohammad Sherpao was the first political martyr, who fell victim to terrorism. He said that Hayat Sherpao made ‘unparalleled’ contributions to the development of the country, especially the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“He took practical steps to eliminate poverty of the poor, workers, farmers, and the oppressed classes, which was why, even after 50 years, the people still remember their beloved leader, Hayat Mohammad Sherpao,” said his younger brother.

Aftab Sherpao said that the law and order situation had deteriorated, unemployment and poverty were on the rise, and the province’s economy was continuously declining. “No one can go to the southern districts after evening,” he said.

“The law and order situation in the chief minister’s home district is extremely poor, but the central and provincial governments are not paying attention to the grave issue,” he regretted.

Sherpao emphasised that a national dialogue was crucial to ensure free, fair and unbiased elections, so that an elected public government could come into being and address the issues of inflation, unemployment and lawlessness.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2025