Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency on Thursday has reiterated its resolve to follow and implement the Waziristan Peace Accord assured unflinching support and co-operation for the security, defence and solidarity of Pakistan.
A jirga representative of the tribe comprising elders and ulema of the agency gave this assurance to the Governor, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Owais Ahmed Ghani during the tribal Jirga, held at the Governor's House on Thursday.
The jirga members included Kamran Khan MNA, Malik Gulabat Khan, Haji Inayat Khan, Abdul Qayum and Malik Qadar Khan. The Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Fata, Habiubullah Khan, Secretary to Governor, Arbab Muhammad Arif, Secretary Law and Order Fata, Ghulam Qadir Khan and Agency Political Agent, Mutahhar Zeb were also present on the occasion.
Disappointed over the intermittent drone attacks and killings of innocent tribesmen, the jirga members demanded protection from such attacks. 'We want peace and will support the government in all its endeavours in this regard,' the elders vowed.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor assured that the government had already realised the concern expressed by the jirga, it was fully aware of the miseries and difficulties of the tribal people and taking all necessary steps to rid them off these attacks. 'No doubt, it is a problem of grave concern and the government will address,' he told the jirga.
Further, the Governor reiterated the government's firm stance to protect the country's frontiers at all cost. He highlighted the security environment in the region and explained the background of the issues confronting both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ghani said that Pakistan, particularly Fata had come in to the focus globally and stressed the need for national unity and cohesion so that the problems could be overcome successfully.
'We must get united and strengthen our rank and file so that we could face the challenges with the strength of our unity,' he remarked. He also said that Pakistan, being the only ideological state having emerged as the first self-reliant military and nuclear country, was a big thorn in the eyes of its enemies.
'They are trying to destabilise Pakistan by creating rift in our rank and file and weaken it economically,' the Governor said, adding that these elements would never succeed in their nefarious designs. The Governor was confident that the tribesmen would also take cognisant of the situation and would not only identify such elements, but would also flush them out.
He said that certain misguided elements in Fata were playing in the hands of enemies and we will have to pursue them to come to the right path. Ghani reminded that Pakistan was stressing, right from the beginning for a negotiated settlement of the issues instead of using force. 'Now the entire word is talking about negotiations and is admitting that Pak-Afghan issues can be resolved through negotiations.
This is the big success of the Pakistan's principled stance in this regard,' the Governor said. He was hopeful that light could be seen at the end of the tunnel and the chances of stability in the region were bright. He in this regard also hinted at the meeting of Mini Pak Afghan Jirga in Islamabad next week said, 'We are hopeful of its success.'
However, he said that Afghan Taliban and other opponent forces in Afghanistan were a reality and they have to be taken on board in any efforts for future political dispensation in Afghanistan. Furthermore, restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan, he stated would leave positive impacts on the situation in Fata and else where in the country. Talking about Waziristan Peace Accord, the Governor said, 'It will hold to implement the agreement.'
Certain elements are in a bid to sabotage the accord but the government and tribesmen will jointly thwart all such attempts, he said. Focusing on demands over power and Atta shortage in the Agency, the Governor assured to make the shortage resolved. He also pointed out that power shortage was a national issue and unless the power production increases, the problem will exit. 'It will take at least two years to overcome the problem of power management,' the Governor said.