KHAAR, June 2: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman on Thursday said that foreign terrorists would not be allowed to take shelter in tribal areas and asked tribesmen keep a watch on elements which wanted to disturb peace in the Bajaur Agency. Speaking at a jirga, he urged tribal elders to play their role in maintaining peace in the agency.

The governor appreciated the recent action taken by the Mamond tribesmen of expelling from their area two persons who were creating disturbance.

He expressed the hope that other tribes would follow the example to keep their areas free of such elements.

“Peace is pre-requisite to progress and development,” he said.

He said some people of Swat, Dir, Malakand and Bajaur crossed over into Afghanistan to help the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks and many of them were still missing.

He said people of Pakistan should play their role as neighbours for ensuring return of peace and normalcy to Afghanistan, which would also affect the country’s internal environment.

The governor said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas had witnessed unprecedented development during the past five years, which would continue till the region was brought on a par with other parts of the country.

The governor warned that officials who remained absent from their duty would not be tolerated in the agency. “I want a clean, dutiful and committed establishment in Fata,” he said, adding that there would be no more bungling in the development funds and other sectors.

He said shortage of staff in educational and health institutions would be overcome soon as the government was chalking out a strategy to fill the vacancies on contract.

He assured the jirga that unnecessary local taxes would be withdrawn to bring the prices of essential commodities in Fata to the level of those in other areas.

He said a change in the system in Fata could not be avoided but it would be brought about within the ambit of tribal customs and traditions.

The role of maliks and jirga would remain intact, he said.

The jirga was attended by tribal elders, MNAs, councillors and officials.