Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health, Shaukat Ali Yousufzai has said that All-Parties Conference (APC) had mandated federal government for holding talks for the restoration of peace, but only few incidents demoralised it. However, he said, PTI chief Imran Khan have still the same stance.
Addressing the oath taking ceremony of newly-elected cabinet of Abbottabad press club and Parents' Day function in Pine Hills Public School, he said the giving first priority to negotiations with Taliban by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani has also confirmed stance of his party.
On this occasion, Provincial Minister for Communication and Works (C&W), Yousuf Ayub, Advisor on Higher Education, Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Advisor on Food, Qalandar Lodhi, Azam Khan Swati, Ali Asghar Khan and Principle of the college, Sher Ali Khan were also present.
The provincial minister said the government is facing severe challenges for the restoration of peace and elimination of terrorism. He was confident that under the dynamic leadership and vision of Imran Khan they will come out of these challenges out amicably.
Expressing concern over attack on Abbottabad-based journalist Sardar Mohammad Shafiq, he said efforts for suppressing voices for the rights of nation and country is always continued. He said journalists have been killed and injured in different areas including Fata, but they will not succeed in suppressing the truth. Culprits involved in attack on Sardar Shafiq would be brought to justice, he vowed.
On this occasion, he announced a grant of Rs 0.5 million for Abbottabad Press Club, adding the government of PTI had allocated a fund of Rs 50 million for the welfare of journalist community of the province.
