PML-Q rejects all new names for NWFP PM Gilani reassures ANP over renaming NWFP

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Monday rejected Pakhtunkhwa, Afghania or Pakhtoonistan as a new name for the NWFP. The decision was taken during a consultative meeting of the PML-Q held under its President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the chair to discuss the issue of NWFP renaming. PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat has formed a committee under Amir Muqam for holding consultations on the issue. 

Addressing a press briefing after the meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat said 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 said the party had formed a special committee to finalise its recommendations for short-listing a consensus name for the province, adding party’s NWFP President Amir Muqam would head the committee.

He said 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 the 17th Amendment. He advised that the renaming is a serious issue and needed a consensus view from all political parties.

PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the special committee would finalise its recommendations within next few days and it would not take too many days.He made it clear that his party would not accept mere Pakhtoonistan, Afghania or Pakhtoonkhwa for the NWFP.

He said it was a sensitive issue which was not even raised in 1973 on the occasion of formation of the country’s Constitution. However, he added since this issue was raised, there was a need to seek proposals from all sections of the society.

He said his party had majority MPAs in the NWFP assembly which were even more than the PML-N so it represented the voice of people of the NWFP.Amir Muqam said his party had to consider the views and aspirations of the people of Hazara, Chitral, Malakand, and other parts of the province and the renaming issue was not limited to the ANP and the PML-N.He said 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.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured the Awami National Party leadership that all national issues, including renaming the NWFP, would be resolved soon with the approval of the constitutional package.

All stakeholders would be taken on board and a consensus would be evolved between all political forces, the prime minister told the ANP leaders, who, led by Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, called on him at his Lahore residence on Monday.

Gilani, during the meeting, said the constitutional package would be tabled in the National Assembly after evolving consensus. Sources said the ANP leader said the party had a firm stance over the issue of renaming the NWFP as Pukhtunkhwa and the deadlock over the matter wouldn’t serve national interest.

Later talking to the media, the ANP leader said his party’s stance on the Kalabagh Dam was unchanged and they still opposed its construction. He stressed that in order to meet energy needs, construction of Basha Dam was vital. Bilour also briefed the prime minister on the working of his ministry during the meeting.

VIA PakTribune