January 22, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 21, 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

PESHAWAR, Jan 21: The NWFP government has decided to offer compenstion to families of the victims of the Jan 13 air strike on Bajaur Agency.

A meeting, presided over by Governor Khalilur Rehman, reviewed the law and order situation in Fata, discussed various issues relating to the situation in the tribal areas and took a number of decisions.

It expressed sympathy with victims of the Bajaur incident.

Participants were unanimous in the view that the writ of the government had to be established in every part of Fata by taking new initiatives to further the political work in this regard.

The meeting also reiterated the government’s firm resolve to enforce the ban on heavy weapons and poppy cultivation.

About the use of FM transmitters, the meeting vowed that all such illegal equipment would be confiscated and the users taken to task, because they were fanning sectarianism and religious disputes, and creating law and order situation in certain parts of Fata.

Incidents of kidnapping, explosion of anti-personnel mines in Bajaur Agency, blockade of main roads and coalmines also came up for discussion.

The governor emphasised the need for active coordination and close cooperation among various government agencies in dealing with the discussed issues.

He particularly directed the political agents of North, South and Bajaur Agencies to take concrete and positive steps to ensure the writ of the government in their respective areas.

The governor constituted a committee headed by the chief secretary to study the situation and formulate recommendations.

Mr Rehman also stressed the need for maintaining religious and sectarian harmony in Kurram and Orakzai Agencies during Muharram and directed the political agents of the two agencies to take all precautionary measures, besides bringing both the sects together to play their role in the maintenance of law and order.

He vowed that the ban on heavy weapons and poppy cultivation would be enforced at every cost.

The governor took exception to the incidents of kidnapping and urged the political officers to arrest the culprits.

Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, IGFC Major-General Tariq Masud, political agents and DCOs of Frontier Regions (FRs) attended the meeting held at the Governor’s House on Thursday.