CHARSADDA: Reiterating the demand for a new social contract, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) leader and former senior minister Sikandar Sherpao on Saturday said that only a welfare state could ensure rights to the people.He was addressing a gathering to mark the death anniversary of QWP leader Mohammad Jan Gigyani in Shabqadar here.Afzal Khamosh of Mazdoor Kisan Party, Dr Said Alam Mehsud of Pakhtunkhwa Ulasi Tehreek and Shahab Khattak of Awami Workers Party were also present on the occasion.Sikandar Sherpao termed the present system a controlled-democracy and said that institutionalised rigging was committed in the July 25 general election. “The mandate of the people has been stolen,” he remarked.Calling for a new social contract, he said that efforts should be made to end the despondency among the Pakhtuns, who were exposed to a host of problems. He underscored the need for the establishment of a welfare state with a transparent government to dispense quick justice and provide health and education facilities to the people.Sikandar Sherpao said the country could not prosper without ensuring rights enshrined in the constitution to the people.Coming down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for failing to deliver on its pledges, he said that the rulers lacked the vision and the ability to steer the country out of the prevailing mess.He said that the PTI government had been unable to provide any relief to the people. He added that the people had become disenchanted with the rulers, who had promised to bring about a change.“Most of the pledges that PTI had made during the election campaign remain unfulfilled,” he pointed out. He said that the country’s economy was in a bad shape.“The government secured loans from Saudi Arabia and China but the economy has shown no signs of improvement which shows its financial managers are incompetent,” he added.Sikandar Sherpao said that the Pakistani rupee had weakened against the US dollar that pushed up the country’s foreign debt. He said the government raised the power and gas tariffs, adding to the burden of the common man.
from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2Jgz6UH
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