Official delegation to visit Kabul for release of detained Pakistanis
'Pakistan Times' NWFP Bureau

PESHAWAR: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that an official delegation will soon be visiting Kabul to secure release of remaining Pakistani detainees languishing in Afghan jails.

He was addressing a delegation from Azakhel and Telaband districts here on Sunday.

The Interior Minister said that at least 1500 detainees had been released from Afghan jail as a result of the efforts of government. He said that an official team had been assigned to visit Kabul to talk to Afghan government about the detainees' issue.

Aftab Sherpao lashed out at the leadership of Awami National Party (ANP) for betraying Pukhtoons. He ridiculed ANP claim of having raised voice for Pukhtoons rights at US, saying that it was an eye wash to mislead the public. He further said that the ANP stance was full of contradictions as it had no clear cut line of action.

Aftab Sherpao said that his party had raised voice for the rights of Pukhtoons at every forum. He maintained that other political parties had hoodwinked Pukhtoons through hollow slogans. He said that these elements had grabbed votes in the name of Pukhoons but failed to deliver good.

He said that various political personalities were being lured by ANP to join the party for different considerations and such conduct had badly discouraged the ideological workers of ANP. He viewed that a party which attracted politicians through allurement would not serve the people.

On the other hand, he said, PPP would award party tickets to candidates on merit so as they could best serve the masses.

The Interior Minister flayed the MMA government for resorting to injustice in the distribution of uplift funds. He said that uplift funds had been allocated to few areas and the majority ones had been ignored which was contrary to the Islamic injunctions. He said that the MMA had failed to live up to its promises and redress the grievances of the people.●