RAWALPINDI, May 9: President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday promised that ‘feasible’ parts of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would be made hub of economic activities. Chairing a meeting on matters relating to Fata here, he said economic zones would be built in the region at a cost of Rs10 billion.
“Elements opposing development schemes will not be tolerated. We are determined to banish terrorism and militancy from our soil so that people of the tribal area can lead a prosperous life,” the president said, adding that more uplift projects would be initiated in the region.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman and Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao also attended the meeting.
Head of Fata Task Force Sahibzada Imtiaz briefed the meeting about political and administrative reorganisation of Fata. He identified feasible locations for building economic zones there. The prime minister promised sanction of required resources for construction of economic zones.
“The process of reforms in country will go on and these will bring economic prosperity,” President Musharraf remarked.
He said that development funds had been disbursed among Fata legislators on equal basis, adding that provision of gas, electricity, health, education and infrastructure would help trigger an era of progress and development in the region.
“People of Fata want progress of their neglected region. However, unfortunately, some elements are suppressing tribal (people) forcefully. The government will sternly deal with elements obstructing development projects,” he warned.
He said the action to flush out foreign terrorists in South Waziristan Agency would continue.
INEXPENSIVE JUSTICE: Later, addressing a dinner hosted at the Aiwan-i-Sadr to mark the Supreme Court’s golden jubilee celebrations, Gen Musharraf said the government was committed to providing inexpensive and timely justice to people at the grass-roots level and assured that judiciary and legal fraternity would be facilitated in the discharge of this responsibility.
“Ultimately, improvement in governance and socio-economic development means people having access to justice which is easy, quick and inexpensive,” he emphasised.
The president said the government had taken a number of steps to strengthen the institution of judiciary and provide the people with access to justice, including introduction of independent prosecution service and review of civil and criminal laws. He hoped these steps would help avert delay and remove procedural impediments in the way of speedy justice.
He also counted initiatives taken in recent years such as enactment of consumer protection laws, setting up of consumer courts, capacity building of judiciary and lawyers, encouragement of women to join judicial and legal profession and automation plan to facilitate communication.—APP
