NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) has said that the formation of agency council is the first step towards the devolution of powers in Fata and these would be entrusted with the authority to utilise development funds as well as monitor the projects.
The basic aim of this decision, he added is to improve the functioning of the system and move forward with complete cohesion.
He was addressing the tribal elders at the end of his a daylong tour to Bajaur Agency. Governor during the tour also laid foundation stone for the construction of a small dam and new building of the boys section of Bajaur Public School, inspected the Agency Headquarters Hospital as well witnessed passing out parade of Bajaur Levy.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor paid rich tributes to the tribes for their deep interest and enthusiasm in electing their representatives in the agency councils and said, this depicts their awareness and mental maturity as well as sense of responsibility.
Agency Councils, the Governor said, is a new experience and it will improve with the passage of time.
Talking about the Wana situation, the Governor said that the actions were taken in the area were in the national interest as well as imperative for security of the country. He strongly criticised certain political and religious parties which, he remarked were continuously trying to misquote the situation.
The Governor made it clear that the government did not have any dispute on any issue with the tribes and 99 percent tribes of Amadzai Wazirs have renewed their pledge through fresh agreements in this regard.
The Governor said we have been trying to resolve this problem in accordance with the tribal customs and we have succeeded to a great extent. We have also offered the foreign elements that if they were in difficulty than we may provide them shelter, subject to fulfillment of our conditions.
If we can provide refuge to almost three million Afghan Refugees on humanitarian grounds then they must believe that we can also provide shelter to these few hundred people as well. But these elements, he added did not avail the opportunity.
Referring to the development process in Bajaur Agency, the Governor said that 630 million rupees are being spent during the current financial year. The amount, he added, did not include the share out of the recently announced allocation of Rs 1 billion, by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The Governor also stressed the need to control the ever increasing ratio of population and said that the government would launch a vigorous campaign for this purpose and the tribal people would also be requested to extend their fullest co-operation in this connection.
He also described the establishment of agency councils as a good omen and said that these would have to be fully empowered.
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