'Tribal system to help restore law and order in Waziristan'

NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has said that situation in Waziristan can be improved through promoting the traditional political system.
Addressing a grand representative tribal Jirga at Governor's House here on Wednesday, the governor supported the proposal presented by Malik Khan Zeb from Waziristan that if the tribal system was allowed to work the law and order problems in North and South Waziristan could be resolved through Jirga consultations.
President General Pervez Musharraf also spoke to the tribal elders during the grand Jirga.
The governor said that the mechanism was applied in South Waziristan, which brought positive results. He also proposed that strengthening the tribal system was imperative because the tribal elders and Maliks had a prominent and responsible role in that system, which would not only improve the situation but also fill the gape between the government, administration and the tribal people.
He highlighted various achievements in administrative and developmental spheres and said that an unprecedented development process had been accelerated throughout Fata because of enhancement in the annual budget outlay for Fata, which had been brought to Rs 5 billion per annum as compared to one billion in the past.
The mineral resources of Fata, he said, were also being exploited to the maximum extent and in Kurram Agency an Italian Tiles Factory was being established that would provide jobs to as many as 1000 women workers.
Similarly, he added Fata was expected to get 15 million Euro income from the Talcum export.
He said that besides poverty alleviation and employment generation, efforts had been made to create awareness among the tribal populace against the menace of terrorism and extremism.
"Religious harmony has been promoted in Kurram Agency and efforts initiated to resolve the tribal feuds mostly on mineral deposits", he added.
The governor said that despite uncertain law and order situation the poppy cultivation in certain inaccessible pockets in Fata had been brought down by 50 percent.
Regarding law and order situation, the governor said that minus Waziristan it remained well under control in rest of Fata. "The tribal populace in general is supportive to the government's policies and steps and majority of them are against the terrorism and extremism", the governor said.
He said the tribesmen wanted peace and development and were expecting more tangible steps from the government side in this regard.
The governor thanked the president for attending the tribal jirga saying that it has fulfilled an outstanding desire of the tribal elders who had been wishing to meet the president for a long time.
Malik Khan Zeb also spoke on the occasion whereas a noted tribal elder Malik Waris Khan Afridi presented the welcome address.
Other tribal elders representing the seven agencies presented traditional gifts to the president.