Sherpao wants joint Pak-Afghan efforts to combat terror

PESHWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has expressed concern over the prevailing mistrust between the Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging both the countries to focus on combating terrorism through joint efforts.

This he said during a meeting with party workers on Monday at Watan Kor, central secretariat of the party. The meeting discussed various national and international issues particularly Pak-Afghan tension.

Aftab Sherpao said the relation between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be normalised through dialogue and the mistrust should be removed to bring both the countries close to combat the terrorism.

He opined that the prevailing bitter situation was not in favour of the two neighbours and could prove disastrous for the entire region.“Since Pashtuns have greatly suffered during the current turmoil, the federal government should engage Pakhtun leaders to help normalise the Pak-Afghan relations,” the QWP chief said.

He said a viable mechanism should be evolved by consulting all political parties for the repatriation of unregistered Afghans. He, however, stressed that the Afghan refugees should not be harassed as they were living in Pakistan under the international accord.

Aftab Sherpao expressed his concern over hundreds of blocked Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) of Pakhtuns by Nadra. He urged the authorities to expedite the process and issue the cards without any delay. 

The QWP chief also demanded the federal government to withdraw its decision on the extension of Customs Act to Malakand division because the area had already suffered during devastating floods and militancy.

He added that tangible measures should be taken for convening next National Finance Commission (NFC) award. He said the sense of deprivation of smaller provinces could only be removed through fair division of the resources.