PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed the officials and heads of relevant institutions to take proper care of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) like other citizens of the province and even prefer them in mitigating their grievances.

“The IDPs are our guests in the province and their proper hospitality is essential part of our faith,” the chief minister said while talking to various delegations of the PTI workers from Fata and Peshawar who called on him in Islamabad on Thursday, according to a handout issued in Peshawar.

It said that besides reiterating their pledge to support Imran Khan in the Azadi March till achievement of the goal, the IDPs and other delegates also apprised the chief minister of the problems being faced by the displaced families in FR Bannu and Lakki Marwat besides civic problems in Peshawar.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf provincial president Azam Swati, general secretary Khalid Masood and some other central and provincial leaders were also present on this occasion.

Mr Khattak said that all problems of displaced families would be resolved on priority and efforts would be made to ensure their proper look till their safe repatriation to respective areas.

He also asked the PTI workers to focus attention on the welfare of IDPs in all the affected areas of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Selfless service of the humanity and giving sacrifices for the cause of humanity is part of our manifesto,” he said.

The chief minister mentioned the participation of people of Fata, including IDPs, in Azadi March, saying that it was a proof of the fact that the tribesmen also wanted a true democratic system free from corruption, nepotism and usurpation of basic rights of the people.

He claimed that people from all parts of the country were participating in Azadi March despite scorching heat, hunger and sleeplessness in order to bring a positive change in their life. He said that his party had no personal agenda. “We want a transparent and poor-friendly system in the country based on supremacy of merit, law and justice,” he said.

The chief minister said that his party wanted to pave the way for a ‘new Pakistan’ where the law was respected and not the personalities. “We want to get our nation rid of the monarchs and dictatorial rulers and put the country on road to progress and prosperity,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014