BANNU - Launching a number of mega development projects here, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif fired broadside at the PTI-led provincial government and said that it could not fulfill its promise to make a new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a public meeting at Ziyad Akram Durrani Sports Complex in district Bannu, he said, “Those chanting slogans of new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have failed at all to deliver in the last three years. The people should differentiate between those pursuing development agenda and those doing politics of anarchy and chaos.”

The prime minister said that he had been willing to see a ‘new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ as promised by the PTI but was disappointed. “Where is ‘Naya Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? When I go to Peshawar, Mansehra, Shinkiari and other parts of KP, I don’t see it. When I come to Bannu, I see old roads, old schools, old hospitals.”

He said, “The PML-N has no role in the KP government but I am here to serve the masses of the province. We will build new Bannu and new KP, because they (KP rulers) are doing nothing. Those had blown the trumpets of prosperity in the general elections of 2013 have done nothing for the development of the province.”

Nawaz said the Supreme Court declared that no rigging had taken place in the general elections 2013 which was a slap on the face of those accusing the PML-N of rigging. Moreover, those who made claims of rigging even did not apologise to the nation, he maintained.

The same opponents are again levelling allegations against PML-N leadership, and the matter had been referred to the apex court anew, he said. “If the corruption of a single penny is proved against me, I will forthwith go home,” he reiterated. He said that they had come to power with the public mandate and were not afraid of the hollow slogans and cheap tactics of their opponents.

The PM observed that China Pakistan Economic Corridor would change the destiny of the region as it would benefit the whole the country including Bannu. Moreover, he said, loadshedding would come to an end in 2018 while the government was also focusing on provision of cheap electricity to the people.

Announcing the establishment of a university in Lukki Marwat and industrial and economic zones in Bannu, Nawaz said the mega projects would bring prosperity and provide employment opportunities for the locals.

He said electricity was being supplied to all the industries round the clock, while gas shortage would also be overcome soon.

He said the internally displaced people had made sacrifices for peace in the country while work for their rehabilitation would be sped up. He said Baran Dam would be rehabilitated and capacity of the Bannu power plant would be enhanced.

Moreover, he said that Bannu Airport would be upgraded to international standard, and people of the region would now easily travel abroad especially for Haj, and Umrah. After announcing the projects and concluding his speech, Nawaz held the hand of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and said, “This is a new Pakistan.”

Earlier, the PM laid foundation stone of gas supply project to five union councils, the project would be completed at a cost of Rs259 million in one year.

Speaking on the occasion, the JUI-F chief said the incumbent government has sped up development projects in backward areas, which were neglected in the past. The PTI leaders who demand resignation of the PM also own offshore companies and assets abroad, he added. He demanded accountability of all and rejected the demand for holding accountability of the PM only.

Lashing out at the PTI government in the province, he said that those were afraid of rats how could face the lions of Punjab as the PTI itself a major hindrance in the way of progress of the country.

Those demanding the PM’s resignation would not find any place in the country when their term would complete and they would be compelled to take shelter in their in-laws, he said. The remote and unprivileged areas have been neglected for the last 60 years but the PM’s arrival would start a new era of development, he hoped. He said that the PM would visit Dera Ismail Khan on May 14 to inaugurate the Western part of the CPEC project.

In his address, former KP CM Akram Khan Durrani said the PTI-led-government in KP will be toppled within a month, if the PM orders. He said that PM was doing a decent politic by presenting himself and his family for accountability, while the opponents are bent upon spreading anarchy, which was regrettable.