May 30, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

KOHAT, May 29: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has rejected the war on terror saying that they did not accept it because it was imposed on the country by foreign powers through their stooge for victimising Pakhtuns on both sides of Durand Line.

Addressing a public meeting in Lachi Town, 25 kilometres south of Kohat, on Thursday in connection with the inauguration of gas supply project the chief minister exhorted the federal government to follow the policy of the Awami National Party for resolving the issue of militancy in the federally administered tribal areas.

He said that the federal government should seek guidance from the successful and meaningful peace talks and singing of agreements with Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi in Malakand and Swat and strategy adopted in Darra Adamkhel. He said that during the five-year rule of the champions of Islam Maulana Sufi Mohammad was languishing in jail and the present government released him within two months after coming into power.

He criticised the former governments for taking dictations from outside on war on terror which had spilled over into large parts of the country. He vowed that the infighting among the Pakhtuns was a conspiracy to divide the nation. He appealed to the people to gather on single platform to get back their usurped rights and stop the bloodshed in the region.

He termed the acceptance of renaming of NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa and shelving of Kalabagh dam forever by the PML-N and PPP as quick achievements of the provincial government made in two months.

Responding to the demands and fears expressed in the welcome address by MPA Dr Iqbal Din Fana, he promised to provide gas facility to every city of the southern districts first and then supply it to other parts of NWFP.

“There is some problem in Darra Adamkhel for laying the gas pipeline which will hopefully be resolved soon and there will be no loadshedding in NWFP by the end of 2009.” He added.

He announced Rs80 million for the potable water supply scheme in Lachi and provision of gas with a cost of Rs37.073 million by June 2008 after which house to house connections would be provided with more funds.

He said that he had already issued directives to the local government department for early processing of the case for granting tehsil status.