DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 12: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that investigations are in progress to detect elements behind the Dargai incident.

Talking to journalists here on Sunday, Mr Sherpao said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal was trying to save its sagging image by exploiting the Bajaur operation, but the federal government would not allow it to politicise the incident.

He said the government had proof that the madressah was used as a camp for training suicide bombers.

He termed MMA’s contention that innocent people had been killed in the airstrike propaganda.

He said that during the last election, the MMA had used the Afghan issue to win majority and form its government in the NWFP. “This time round, they are preparing to use the prevailing situation to their advantage,” he said.

The minister said that the government would honour all its agreements with tribal elders, including those reached with the tribes of the North Waziristan Agency.

But, he added, any violation of agreements would prompt military action. Mr Sherpao said that the present assemblies would complete their term, adding that the next elections would be held on time.

It would be ensured that the elections were free, fair and transparent, he added.

The minister rejected reports that his party (PPP-Sherpao) would be merged with the ruling PML before the next year’s election.

He said that he would like the all like-minded parties and the present coalition partners in the centre to jointly contest the election.

Seat-to-seat adjustments could be made with the coalition partners in Punjab and the NWFP, he said.

Mr Sherpao said that record development works had been carried out by the present government.

For the first time in the country, Rs 415 billion was being spent on the public sector development programme, he claimed.

The minister said that opposition parties in the NWFP Assembly would resist the proposed Hisba bill if it was presented again.

Through the bill, the MMA was trying to hoodwink the masses and hide its four-year poor performance in the government, he alleged.