Tribesmen urged to stand up against anti-social elements

NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (Retd), on Friday urged tribesmen to stand up against anti-social elements and miscreants, who were trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the Agency, which had always remained peaceful.
He was addressing the Jirga of elders during his brief visit to Ghallanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency, where he also inaugurated development projects. Secretary Law and Order FATA Arbab Muhammad Arif, Political Agent Kazim Niaz and heads of line departments were also present.
Aurakzai said that the government was well prepared to meet the challenge of militancy and terrorism and was committed to root out the menace with the active cooperation of the tribesmen. "What actually needed is that the people of the Agency should realise gravity of the situation and be united against the mischievous elements", he maintained.
He said that the situation in the Agency was by and large satisfactory, adding that the tribesmen had all the capabilities to keep it under control. Referring to the initiatives of the Government for uplift of FATA, the Governor said that the present govt. was fully committed to the speedy development of tribal areas.
The development process, he added, would continue to bring progress and prosperity to these backward areas. He said that additional development funds would be made available for less developed areas like Ambar, Khoezai, Baizai, Prang Ghar and Dawezai of the agency.
He said that peace was imperative for development, which was already going on but urged the tribesmen to cooperate with the administration and line departments in timely completion of development projects. Governor said that Marble City project in Mohmand Agency was about to take off, which he added would bring a new era of prosperity to the Agency.
He said the project would generate enormous economic activities in the area besides job and skill development opportunities to the local youth. Responding to a complaint of low voltage of electricity in Safi Tehsil, the Governor announced installation of a transformer in the relevant Grid station at the cost of Rs 15 million. He also announced to construct a big Jirga hall in Ghallanai.
Tribal elders Haji Fazal Manan, Malik Muhammad Ali Halimzai and Malik Attaullah Tarakzai in their speeches assured the Governor that tribesmen of the Agency would fully cooperate with the administration in maintenance of peace and flushing out the anti-social and mischievous elements from the Agency.
They also appreciated the initiative, taken by the Governor Aurakzai for resolving the conflicts through Jirga process, saying that this old tradition had to be maintained and further strengthened.
Later the Governor visited the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Ghallani and inspected various sections of the hospital besides inaugurating the newly created including OPD, Gynae ward, labour room in the hospital. He also inaugurated the civil colony extension project.