Sunday, May 24, 2009

PPP-S, ANP slam ban on IDPs entry

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have resented the decision by the Sindh and Punjab governments to ban entry of displaced persons from the troubled areas of NWFP.

The PPP-S staged a protest rally Sunday, which was led by the party provincial president MPA Sikandar Sherpao, general secretary Bakht Baidar, Muhammad Ali Khan, Fazal Rahman Nono, Malik Zawar and Alamzeb Umerzai.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans expressing solidarity with the displaced persons and condemning Sindh and Punjab governments for banning the IDPs entry into these provinces.

Meanwhile, provincial culture secretary of the ANP Hameedur Rahman Mohammadzai criticised the decision of the Sindh and Punjab governments. In a statement, Mohammadzai said banning the entry of IDPs from the conflict zones into Punjab, Sindh or the federal areas was a violation of the 1973 Constitution and human rights.

“Being the free citizens of Pakistan, the displaced people have the right to go and live anywhere in the country,” said the ANP leader, who added that under articles 15 and 25 of the Constitution, movement of the citizens could not be restricted in the country.

He said the decision would create bad feelings among the IDPs as well as people of NWFP that could prove harmful for the unity of the federating units.Mohammadzai demanded of the president and prime minister to take notice of the step-motherly treatment with Pakhtuns who were passing through a critical phase and fighting on the front line to save rest of the country.

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