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Save NWFP Save Pakistan: A Statement Of ALL CONCERNED Citizens
This petition was published by NWFP Progressive Citizens' Group on Dec 01, 2007
Save NWFP, Save Pakistan: A Statement of CONCERNED Citizens, 2007
We, as concerned citizens of the world, wish to register our strong concern, dismay and protest over the state of affairs that has been allowed to develop in the NWFP, Pakistan.
We believe that this unprecedented breakdown of law and order and the resulting sense of insecurity among peace-loving citizens of the area is the direct consequence of political folly, of prevarication and of administrative ineptitude.
Today, many areas of the NWFP are in a virtual state of anarchy, while the adjoining tribal territory continues to be the scene of turmoil and bloodshed. Kidnappings, bombings, murder and arson are the order of the day. The streets are no longer safe, nor indeed are people's homes.
The NWFP has, throughout the past 60 years, been subject to maltreatment and neglect. Its leaders, who gave far greater sacrifices in the freedom struggle against colonialism than anyone in Pakistan, were dubbed as traitors. NWFP's development has been minimal and it remains backward and impoverished. The province's social sector indicators in education and health were better in 1992 than in 2007. Billions of dollars in foreign aid have been received in the name of the province but little of it has been spent here. It seems to have been largely swallowed up by the purchase of arms and by privileges and luxuries for the rulers. Even the province's legitimate earnings from hydel power have been denied to it despite an arbitration award which was mutually accepted by WAPDA (national Water and Power Development Authority) and the province.
Ill-conceived policies, erroneous priorities and unmerited appointments at the higher levels have aggravated the woes of the people. A situation has been allowed to develop, perhaps even encouraged, where ordinary NWFP citizens are either victims of threats and intimidation by extremist elements or are at the mercy of brutality by official agencies. Innocent people are dying at the hands of militants and at the hands of the army.
This cannot continue and we must warn that serious doubts are being openly expressed about the future of the province and indeed of the country. If those in power in Islamabad and Peshawar do not respond immediately to the danger the future bodes ill for all of us.
We, therefore, urge the both the provincial and federal governments to take urgent and effective remedial steps in full consultation with all stakeholders. The solution will not always be the use of force and it is imperative that the role of citizens themselves be identified so that they can join hands to counter the serious threat we all face. This can only be done if we all rise above narrow self-interest and partisan politics. We expect the government to show the way in order to save the NWFP. If not addressed urgently, this situation will soon engulf the whole country and the region.
END
We, as concerned citizens of the world, wish to register our strong concern, dismay and protest over the state of affairs that has been allowed to develop in the NWFP, Pakistan.
We believe that this unprecedented breakdown of law and order and the resulting sense of insecurity among peace-loving citizens of the area is the direct consequence of political folly, of prevarication and of administrative ineptitude.
Today, many areas of the NWFP are in a virtual state of anarchy, while the adjoining tribal territory continues to be the scene of turmoil and bloodshed. Kidnappings, bombings, murder and arson are the order of the day. The streets are no longer safe, nor indeed are people's homes.
The NWFP has, throughout the past 60 years, been subject to maltreatment and neglect. Its leaders, who gave far greater sacrifices in the freedom struggle against colonialism than anyone in Pakistan, were dubbed as traitors. NWFP's development has been minimal and it remains backward and impoverished. The province's social sector indicators in education and health were better in 1992 than in 2007. Billions of dollars in foreign aid have been received in the name of the province but little of it has been spent here. It seems to have been largely swallowed up by the purchase of arms and by privileges and luxuries for the rulers. Even the province's legitimate earnings from hydel power have been denied to it despite an arbitration award which was mutually accepted by WAPDA (national Water and Power Development Authority) and the province.
Ill-conceived policies, erroneous priorities and unmerited appointments at the higher levels have aggravated the woes of the people. A situation has been allowed to develop, perhaps even encouraged, where ordinary NWFP citizens are either victims of threats and intimidation by extremist elements or are at the mercy of brutality by official agencies. Innocent people are dying at the hands of militants and at the hands of the army.
This cannot continue and we must warn that serious doubts are being openly expressed about the future of the province and indeed of the country. If those in power in Islamabad and Peshawar do not respond immediately to the danger the future bodes ill for all of us.
We, therefore, urge the both the provincial and federal governments to take urgent and effective remedial steps in full consultation with all stakeholders. The solution will not always be the use of force and it is imperative that the role of citizens themselves be identified so that they can join hands to counter the serious threat we all face. This can only be done if we all rise above narrow self-interest and partisan politics. We expect the government to show the way in order to save the NWFP. If not addressed urgently, this situation will soon engulf the whole country and the region.
END
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