Lawmakers to hold talks with tribes in Wana

NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) on Monday declared that the government is ready to settle Wana issue in accordance with the Shakai agreement.
The governor assured to lift economic sanctions against those sub-tribes of Ahmedzai Wazir tribe, which gave guarantee of their allegiance and agreed with the government's conditions.
The suggestion to this effect was floated by a delegation comprising parliamentarians from Fata who called on him here at the Governor's House.
The delegation led by Senator Malik Muhammad Ajmal held in-depth discussions with the governor on various aspects of Wana situation.
It was agreed in the meeting that a delegation of parliamentarians would visit Wana to hold talks with the concerned tribes. The delegation may ink an agreement with the tribesmen provided they agreed to government's terms and conditions.
Talking to the delegates, the governor said that the government is willing to settle the Wana issue through political means, however, the government would not back out of its conditionalities.
General Iftikhar said the government wanted that tribesmen harbouring foreigners should be handed over to political authorities, besides giving firm assurance to the government that they would not provide shelter to aliens for carrying out anti-state activities.
The governor said the government still stand by its commitment that foreigners would not be handed over to any third country and they would be allowed to live on our soil if they surrendered to the government.
However, he made it clear that foreigners would have to surrender without any precondition and the concerned tribe would give guarantee of allegiance.
General Iftikhar said the government wanted to take all segments along in the settlement of the matter and referred to the measures like constitution of Jirgas, amnesty to foreigners and inclusion of elected representatives of Fata in political steps to substantiate his viewpoint.
The governor said economic sanctions imposed against the tribes were as per the tribal traditions and customs and added that frequent rocket attacks on government installations by miscreants was a clear manifestation of the fact that economic sanctions failed to yield any positive results.
He hinted at further tightening of economic sanctions against the concerned tribes in Wana.
"Our sole aim is to purge Wana of anti-social elements and to make it a citadel of peace," the governor added. If the concerned tribes wanted to help the government in its endeavours, they should come forward and the government is ready to sit with them for peaceful settlement of the Wana issue.
Earlier, Federal Minister Senator Malik Ajmal apprised the governor that the Fata parliamentarians have decided to play their due role for amicable settlement of the matter.
He said a delegation of elected representatives would soon hold talks with the respective tribes in order to thrash out a viable political solution to the problems which is acceptable to all parties to the issue.