PESHAWAR, June 22: NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said that the formation of a grand tribal jirga to settle the Waziristan crisis is in the final stage.
Talking to journalists after a ceremony held to burn seized drugs on Thursday, the governor said prominent maliks and elders of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas would be in the jirga.
“We will take all segments of the tribal areas into confidence to work out a permanent and comprehensive solution to the situation in Waziristan.” He said he believed that the issue would be resolved amicably.
Speaking at the ceremony, the governor appreciated 45 per cent reduction in poppy production in Fata this year and directed the authorities concerned to accelerate efforts to curb poppy cultivation and drug addiction.
He assured law-enforcement agencies of his full support for their efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation from Fata and the province.
Anti-Narcotics Force Regional Commander Brig Najamul Hassan Jameel said that 99.396kg of heroin, 5,133.385kg of hashish, 544.497kg of opium, 164.44kg of poppy straw and 416 grams of amphetamine were being destroyed.
He said a campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation and drug addiction was under way in the region.
Agencies add: The governor said the government had taken multidimensional measures for eradication of poppy from Fata and success had been achieved in this connection in different areas.
He said a campaign was required for spreading awareness among tribesmen about effects of poppy.
The ANF official said the force was launching an awareness campaign for the purpose.
The governor formally ignited the dump of drugs.
POLICEMEN KILLED: Gunmen suspected to be militants shot dead three policemen in an ambush near Bannu, police said on Thursday.
About a dozen armed men opened fire when a police patrol was crossing a bridge outside Bannu, close to North Waziristan, late on Wednesday, a police statement said. “They killed a police inspector and two constables,” said the statement.
The attackers who were in a pick-up fled towards North Waziristan after seizing weapons and the police van. One policeman in the vehicle survived the attack, an official said.
