BANNU: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central president Javed Hashmi said on Saturday that the arrival of about one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan Agency had aggravated the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it was already facing a plethora of problems due to prolonged militancy and lack of resources.

Talking to media persons at Bannu Press Club following his visit to IDP camps in Bannu, Mr Hashmi said that though PTI was not taken into confidence before launch of the operation in North Waziristan, they were fully behind the armed forces and wanted the operation to successfully complete as soon as possible.

PTI provincial general secretary Khalid Mehsud was also present on the occasion.

The party president demanded of the federal government to allow the foreign and national NGOs after completion of their scrutiny and registration process to carry out rehabilitation and relief activities to mitigate problems of IDPs. He said that PTI would stand by the displaced people till their complete rehabilitation. He also appreciated the people of Bannu for welcoming IDPs.

Mr Hashmi said that the PTI leadership had reservations about the operation and wanted peaceful settlement of the issue through negotiations.

Says arrival of IDPs has aggravated situation in KP

He said that during Nawaz-Imran meeting in Bani Gala it was promised that PTI would be taken into confidence in case of military operation.

He asked the federal government to deploy more platoons of FC in Bannu after the influx of a large number of displaced people from North Waziristan to control law and order situation.

The PTI leader said that Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif was leading a “family-limited government.”

He said that Sharif brothers’ priorities were less democratic and more business-oriented. He said that ‘Azadi March’ of PTI would be led to its logical conclusion.

Earlier, Mr Hashmi was briefed at the commissioner’s office about the process of IDPs registration and scrutiny.

He also visited the Imran Khan Foundation’s office in Bannu and listened to the problems of IDPs.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2014