PESHAWAR -  Treasury and opposition parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Tuesday vowed to take extreme steps if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed in fulfilling his commitment making western route as part of CPEC project.

They asked the federal government to come clean on western route. 

Instead of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, federal government is making it China-Punjab Economic Corridor, which is regrettable, Senior Minister Inayatullah Khan told the house which met with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.

On a point of order, the lawmaker asked the speaker to suspend today’s agenda to debate over CPEC western route, as Chinese Ambassador has conveyed to CM Pervez Khattak that western route is not part of $46 billion CPEC project.

The Speaker suspended the set agenda and allowed debate over CPEC western route.  

The PM Nawaz Sharif had assured leadership of various political and religious parties at an APC held on CPEC in Islamabad that western route was not only part of the CPEC, but it would also be constructed on priority basis, Inayat informed the house. 

Moreover, he said that Federal Minister for Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal had also assured KP government and politicians on several occasions that western route is part of the CPEC. 

It is unfortunate that federal government is not telling the truth, he explained.

The federal government was not honouring its commitment regarding western route. It’s a conspiracy to usurp rights of small federating units and it would certainly lead to weakening federation, the minister said.

“We want that federal government should come clean and tell us whether western route is or not part of the CPEC project,” Inayatullah Khan questioned and said that his party was ready to launch a massive movement against government against keeping KP people in dark. There is concern among people of the province, because they want to know the truth, he said. 

“The CPEC is a fortune-changer project, so, we want that western route should be made its part and be built on priority basis. If KP government calls for any agitation movement, JI will be a part of it,” he said.

PPP’s parliamentary leader Mohammad Ali Shah reminded PM Nawaz Sharif to fulfil commitment that he had made regarding building of western route.

The PPP, he said, would be part of any movement if launched against federal government in this connection whether it is to block motorways, sit-ins or protects across the country.

On his turn, Qaumi Watan Party’s MPA Bakht Baidar Khan said that Pakhtun nation had rendered many sacrifices for Pakistan. But, unfortunately, due rights are ever denied to them. “We are being deliberately pushed against the wall. Federal government should sense the gravity of the situation,” he said.

“A Pakhtun has neither burnt national flag nor did hatch any conspiracy against Pakistan. Then why, we are being constantly ignored. Why our rights are not being given to us. Is it a crime to demand our due rights,” Bakht Baidar said.

He asked federal government not to divide the nation anymore. “Stop step-motherly attitude with Pakhtuns. Give us our rights,” he maintained.

Taking part in the debate, JUI-F MPA Mufti Janan said that despite rendering sacrifices for the country, Pakhtuns are being killed for no reason.

“The PTI has so far spent most of its time in sit-in, marches and protests. Despite all, it is better late than never.

“We welcome that PTI has now realized that it has also some responsibilities,” JUI-F lawmaker Mufti Janan remarked.

On this turn, PML-N parliamentary leader Aurangzeb Nalota said that people had rejected politics of protests. He said that it was the fourth time that CPEC project had been raised on the floor of the House.

“It reflects that KP assembly takes up only those issues that go against the federal government,” he asserted adding the PML-N would work for provincial rights.

He said, “It is crystal clear that CPEC project will be the main factor for general elections in 2018. Sensing the situation, the PTI is making point scoring now, but, it will not succeed to deceive people anymore.” 

After frustrating from its sit-ins and marches, PTI was now trying to be champion of provincial rights, but it would prove a futile exercise, the N-league lawmaker said.

Upon his remarks, the PTI legislatures stood up and chanted slogans the prime minister and the PML-N lawmaker responded in the same manner while criticising PTI chief. However, the speaker intervened and asked the legislatures to calm down. In his brief remarks, Asad Qaiser said that federal government should sit with the Chinese government and make the western route part of the CPEC and declare it publically.

“KP people want to know whether western route is or not part of the CPEC project,” he explained. PTI MPA Shaukat Yusufzai said that the PML-N government should stop deceiving KP people on hollow slogans.

The federal government must make documents of the CPEC project public, he said.

PTI’s Fazli Elahi Khan, Malak Qasim, Qalanadar Ludhi, JUI-F Zareen Gul, PPP Salim Khan, PML-N Raja Faisal Zaman and QWP Gohar Nawaz also took part in the debate.

The Speaker later adjourned the session till Wednesday (Today) 3pm.