September 27 Long March Decision Stands, We Will Seek Strong Public Support: Asad Qaiser

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has said that the decision to hold a long march on September 27 remains unchanged, adding that the party will work to ensure the march succeeds and receives strong public support.

In an interview, Qaiser said the party would make every effort to mobilize the public for the planned protest. He criticized the federal government over what he described as its handling of a Supreme Court order regarding the medical treatment of a PTI leader.

He said the Supreme Court had clearly ordered that the individual be shifted to Al Shifa Hospital in Islamabad, where a medical board was to conduct a comprehensive examination and make a decision regarding his treatment.

Qaiser further alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not being given its constitutional right to govern. He claimed that the provincial government was not consulted over the appointment of key administrative officials, including the chief secretary and inspector general of police.

According to Qaiser, decisions taken by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister were being obstructed by the federal government, while the province was also being denied its due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

He claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced a shortfall of Rs153 billion last year and maintained that, following the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the province’s NFC share should be increased from 14 percent to 19 percent.

Qaiser also alleged that the state had failed to fulfill its commitment to provide Rs1,000 billion annually following the FATA merger.

Regarding the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the provincial police had sufficient capacity to deal with internal security matters. However, he argued that when security problems arise due to foreign policy decisions, the matter falls within the federal government’s domain.

He said PTI had repeatedly called for dialogue with the federal government on the security situation and urged full implementation of the National Action Plan.

Qaiser added that the provincial government would not shirk its responsibilities and called on the federal government to fulfill its own constitutional responsibilities as well.