March 23, 2006	Thursday	Safar 22, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, March 22: Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday said that peace in Fata was vital for development. He was speaking to a delegation from Fata, who met him at the PML office.

Chaudhry Shujaat said that during his tenure as Prime Minister in August 2004, he had convened a conference on Fata, which was attended by the MMA leadership including Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Hussain Ahmed, federal ministers and the military high command.

During the conference, there was a consensus among all the participants that foreign residing in Fata must register themselves, he said.

He said the consensus evolved in that conference needed to be reinforced today for peace and stability in the area.

The PML chief said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf was personally taking interested in resolving all issues in a peaceful manner and in seeking maximum, accelerated development of the Fata region.

He said that a huge fund had been allocated for the purpose and there was an unprecedented development of infrastructure, schools and social welfare projects.

The PML president lauded the role of the armed forces and the paramilitary forces in preserving, protecting and promoting national security, and the operation there was aimed at clearing the area of terrorists and foreigners who are destabilizing this sensitive region.

He also condemned the target killings of tribal Maliks terming this an act of blatant terrorism. He also lauded the services of the Tribal Maliks for the Kashmir cause during the 1948 war.

Speaking on the occasion, the different members of the tribal Jirga recalled their services for Pakistan particularly the Kashmir cause and they said that they were very keen to promote peace and cooperation with the government to support the process of dialogue and development in Fata.

They asked the PML president to convey their sentiments to the President and Prime Minister and assured their cooperation for resolution of all issues.