Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa not a constitutional issue: Pervaiz Elahi

Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa not a constitutional issue: Pervaiz Elahi

LAHORE: Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa is not a constitutional issue but the government has pitchforked it in the 18th Amendment to create unrest in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Wednesday.

He said had it been a constitutional matter, Abdul Wali Khan whould have demanded it or written a reservation note at the time the 1973 constitution was signed.

Elahi said the government brought this issue up and highlighted it only to divert the public’s attention from real issues. “It may serve the vested interests of a few people but will not benefit the public,” he added.

He said PML-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif not only played a deplorable role on this issue but also damaged the Muslim League’s history. He said Nawaz did not have the right to use the Muslim League’s name after the PML-N’s deal with the Pakistan People’s Party over the 18th Amendment.

Elahi said such a move by Nawaz had not only “disturbed” the souls of Muslim League’s founders but their descendants were also protesting over it. He said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had changed the historic success of the NWFP referendum into defeat, adding that the people of the province would not give up.

Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa not a constitutional issue: Pervaiz Elahi

Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa not a constitutional issue: Pervaiz Elahi

LAHORE: Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa is not a constitutional issue but the government has pitchforked it in the 18th Amendment to create unrest in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Wednesday.

He said had it been a constitutional matter, Abdul Wali Khan whould have demanded it or written a reservation note at the time the 1973 constitution was signed.

Elahi said the government brought this issue up and highlighted it only to divert the public’s attention from real issues. “It may serve the vested interests of a few people but will not benefit the public,” he added.

He said PML-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif not only played a deplorable role on this issue but also damaged the Muslim League’s history. He said Nawaz did not have the right to use the Muslim League’s name after the PML-N’s deal with the Pakistan People’s Party over the 18th Amendment.

Elahi said such a move by Nawaz had not only “disturbed” the souls of Muslim League’s founders but their descendants were also protesting over it. He said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had changed the historic success of the NWFP referendum into defeat, adding that the people of the province would not give up.

The government brought this issue up and highlighted it only to divert the public’s attention from real issues: Pervaiz Elahi

Shujaat welcomes consensus on 18th Amendment

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Thursday welcomed the consensus reached among all political groups about 18th Amendment.

About the renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, he said: “We have written a dissenting note about the new name, while efforts will be made during debate that old name remains unchanged.”

Speaking to reporters at his Lahore residence, the PML-Q leader said the constitutional reforms committee comprising all political parties had to work hard in order to evolve a consensus about the reforms.

“This is the first time that all parties are united on any issue,” he added.

To a question, Hussain said he was glad if Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had requested the PML-N to rejoin the federal cabinet.

Responding to a query about Shoaib-Sania wedding reports, he said that people-to-people contacts must continue and it was also the result of same people-to-people contacts.

Constitutional reforms, NWFP renaming separate issues: Shujaat Hussain

ISLAMABAD - PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday said that the constitutional reforms were an initiative being taken in the national interest and it should not be clubbed with the renaming of the NWFP.
He expressed these views while addressing a press briefing after the party’s special meeting held here on Monday to discuss the renaming row of NWFP. He said that the party had formed a special committee to finalise its recommendations for short-listing a consensus name for the province, saying that the party’s NWFP President Amir Muqam would head the committee.
He said that initially there was a demand to repeal the controversial clauses of the 17th Amendment from the Constitution, which was later deferred and many other issues were clubbed together with the issue of 17th Amendment. He argued that the renaming was a serious issue and needed consensus view from all political parties.
PML -Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that the special committee would finalise its recommendations within next few days and it would not take too long to reach a conclusion.
He made it clear that his party would not accept any such name like Pakhtoonistan, Afghania or Pakhtoonkhwa as new name for the NWFP. He said that it was a sensitive issue, which was not even raised in 1973 on the eve of formation of the country’s Constitution. However, he added, since this issue is raised, there is a need to seek proposals from all sections of the society.
He said that his party had majority MPAs in NWFP Assembly, which were even more than PML-N so it represented the voice of people of NWFP.
Amir Muqam said his party had to consider the views and aspirations of the people of Hazara, Chiteral, Malakand, and other parts of the province and the renaming issue was not limited to ANP and PML-N only. He said that due to the sensitivity of the issue, his party would take all people on board and a consensus view would be adopted by the special committee.

PML Q Leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain alongwith ANO Leader talking with journalists

Renaming of NWFP: PML-Q asks ANP not to be stuck on single name ISLAMABAD: As Awami National Party paces up its contact campaign with the political parties with the exception of PML-N for gathering support of renaming NWFP, PML-Q and ANP have agreed to show flexibility on the issue. To this effect, a three member ANP delegation on Monday met with PML-Q president CH Shujaat Hussain. Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Saeed and PML-Q president NWFP Amir Mukam was also present on the occasion. PML-Q sources told that ANP has assured to show flexibility on the renaming of the NWFP while PML-Q has also expressed its willingness that if the province is named Pakhtoonkhwa Khyber or Pakhtoonkhwa Abaseen than the party is willing to support it. But people of Hazara, Chitral and Kohistan should also be taken into confidence and the name of Pakhtoonkhwa should not be insisted on. In this regard when PML NWFP President Amir Mukam was contacted he told Online that we have assured ANP that if they show flexibility on the name than PML-Q would also do. We do not want that three provinces are created over the renaming of the province issue. All stakeholders would have to find a middle way out and stubbornness should not be shown over a single name. He said that ANP has assured us that they would also show flexibility. Amir Mukam said that we are also in consultations with our party leaders and workers in NWFP. Talking to media after the meeting PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Saeed said that the renaming of the province is not an issue of one party or individual but is a matter of the entire country and it would be settled through consultations. He said soon Asfandyar Wali and Ch Shujaat Hussain would meet and we are consulting party leaders of NWFP on this matter.

Renaming of the province is not an issue of one party or individual

Terrorists deserve exemplary punishment: Engineer Ameer Muqam

‘Terrorists deserve exemplary punishment’

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid NWFP President Ameer Muqam on Sunday said those fighting army were criminals and deserved exemplary punishment.

Muqam said sacrifices rendered by the army and the nation in fight against terrorism and militancy had saved the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Madyan area of Swat district, he said terrorism, inflation, unemployment and load shedding were the province’s real issues instead the one related to its renaming.

He urged government to focus its attention on resolving public problems.

Muqam said no rehabilitation and reconstruction work had yet been started in Swat and other terrorism-affected areas. He said it was necessary to compensate the displaced people for their damages. This, he said, will ensure lasting peace in the area.

PML-Q NWFP General Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said the sacrifices given by Swat people would not go to waste. He said the PML-Q was a strong political force in the province having representation in all 24 districts. He asked party workers to prepare for the upcoming local government elections

Pakistan Muslim Leauge NWFP President Engineer Ameer Muqam News Statement

President PML-NWFP Engineer Ameer Muqam