ISLAMABAD: Youth Parliament Pakistan has passed a resolution on renaming NWFP as ‘Pakhtunistan, Pakhtunkhwa or Afghania’.
The resolution was moved by Aurangzeb Khan Zalmay and Muhammad Irfan Khan, members of the opposition party (Green) and Ali Inam Khan, member of the treasury party (Blue), a press release issued here on Tuesday said.
The movers were of the opinion that NWFP was not a reasonable name and living in a democratic country, renaming NWFP was the genuine demand of Pakhtuns.
“Pakhtuns are in majority in NWFP and they have their legal right to change the name of the province according to their desire,” they said.
The problem behind this issue was that it had been politicized; therefore it had raised ethnic and political temperature in the country, they said.
They urged that Pakhtuns did not want any further delay in renaming NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa. They said it should be kept in mind that movement of Pakhtunkhwa was not a secessionist movement, but it called for restoration of identity.
The present name of the province did not represent any identity of the people of the province, the said. If major ethnic groups did not agree to give identity to Pakhtuns then names of other provinces should be debated and changed with regard of their geographical location, they said.
The prime minister supported the resolution saying that now was the time to restore and build confidence of Pakhtuns.
Hanan Ali Abbasi, opposing the resolution, criticized ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, but after heated debate he withdrew his statement.
Muhammad Irfan Khan said there were 68 percent Pakhtoon population in the province and this resolution had been passed many times by the Provincial Assembly of NWFP.
Shakil Agha from the government side said that Pakhtunkhwa was a cultural, not a political name. Khitab Gul said the name of Afghania could bring harmony between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Aurangzeb Khan Zalmay suggested that Afghnia would be the best name because it represents the entire ethnic groups in the province.
The resolution was passed after two days of hot debate on the issue. Three members who were opposing the resolution, walked out from the Parliament but Zalmay brought them back.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/10/2010
