The NWFP Governor, Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd), has said that the government was sincere to resolve the issue of South Waziristan Agency peacefully and through mutual understanding; saying the government would continue to stick to the policy of avoiding unnecessary use of force in this regard.
He was addressing a representative tribal jirga of "Dray Mehsud" of South Waziristan Agency at Tank, where he visited on Tuesday. The governor said that the local tribesmen would have to play their role to make the area peaceful and prosperous. MNA Maulana Marij-ud-din, Secretary FATA Security Brigadier (Retd) Mehmood Shah, Agency Political Agent Asmaullah Gandapur and other officials were also present on the occasion.
The governor said that the foreign elements and miscreants who were hiding in the area were not only bent upon to sabotage the peaceful atmosphere but also intended to defame Pakistan as well as Waziristan.
They, he added were neither sincere to Islam nor to Pakistan but striving to fulfil their own agendas at the cost of the peace and prosperity of the area.
The governor reiterated the government firm resolve to wipe out these elements; saying "they would not be allowed to continue their terrorist activities on our soil". However, the governor recalled that if the foreign elements accepted the government offer and conditionalities, they could be allowed to stay in the area against valid guarantees of the local tribesmen.
The governor also expressed his grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of firing on a qaumi jirga in Sheikh Zayarat area of South Waziristan Agency and said that those who sacrificed their lives have in fact rendered a great service to the nation and for the sake of peace of the area which would be remembered for ever.
The governor said that the miscreants are playing a very dirty game and the local tribesmen will have to play their role to foil the evil designs of these elements. He said that it was in the best interest of the entire tribes that peace is restored in the area and in development process restarted. The governor also refereed to the incident of kidnapping and murder of Chinese engineer and said that those who had committed this heinous crime was no doubt the enemy of Pak-China friendship.
The governor said that the China is not only our brotherly and neighbourly country but it has also been helping Pakistan in every hour of test. The Chinese engineers were busy to develop the area and harming such friendly people is a clear testimony to the fact that all those involved in this act were in fact anti state elements.
The tribal elders including Maulana Miraj-ud-din MNA, Malik Inayatullah and Brig, (r) Qayyum Sher in their brief speeches assured the government that Mehsud tribe would extend every co-operation to the Army as well as Political administration in dealing with the issue of foreign elements. They said that the maximum of the Mehsud area have since been purged off the foreign elements and miscreants and hoped that their remaining colleagues would also be shown the door.
Earlier, the governor distributed relief cheques amongst the heirs of the deceased members of the jirga, who lost their lives in the Sheikh Ziyarat firing incident. The Behlol Zai tribe was given Rs 6.5 million whereas Shaman Khel Peace Committee received Rs 0.6 million, Nazar Khel Peace Committee Rs 0.3 million and Makeen Peace Committee Rs 0.1 million.
Addressing on the occasion, the governor paid rich tributes to Behlol Zai Mehsud tribe for rendering valuable services in the wake of on going situation in the area. He said that members of the jirga offered sacrifice for the cause of justice and righteousness.
The Governor hoped that all the tribes of South Waziristan Agency would strive hard to keep their areas peaceful by extending a helping hand to the administration in this regard. He said it would also enable the government to resume the developmental process aimed at the over all prosperity of the people of the area.
The governor also urged the tribesmen to uphold their tradition by co-operating the forces of justice and righteousness and also forging unity to foil the nefarious designs of the foreign elements and miscreants.
The tribesmen belonging to Behlol Zai, Shaman Khel, Nazar Khel and Makeen tribes highly thanked to the governor for sharing their grieves and visiting to meet personally the tribesmen and all those who suffered.
They also reiterated their commitments to continue their help and co-operation in rooting out the terrorists and miscreants from their respective areas.
They also highlighted certain problems and development requirements particularly in the fields of education, health, irrigation, agriculture and drinking water supply.
The governor issued on the spot directives to resolve all these problems and fulfil the development requirements.