PESHAWAR, Feb 23: NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has said the government has suspended operations in North Waziristan Agency because it believes that tribesmen are able to restore peace and normalcy through their own customs and traditions.

“It doesn’t mean that the govt has backed out of its earlier determination. Rather we want to show that the tribesmen can improve the situation themselves,” he added.

“However, if there is no improvement, the operations will resume with full vigour and severity,” he warned.

Addressing a representative tribal jirga of Utmanzai Wazir and Daur tribes of North Waziristan Agency at Miranshah on Thursday, the governor said that the tribesmen should realize the gravity of the situation and discharge their responsibilities to evade further operations.

The governor said that the government was taking action against the elements that were our foes as well as enemies of the entire world and humanity. “If we do not fix them up, others are ready to follow them till total elimination,” he added.

The governor lauded tribesmen for their loyalty to Pakistan as well as their sacrifices for the country during the independence movement and thereafter on many other occasions, saying “Now again the time has come that the tribesmen should demonstrate the same spirit to uphold the dignity and prestige of the country”.

Describing the efforts of the government in Fata as being in the interest of the nation as well as tribesmen, the governor said that deployment of the army in the tribal belt was aimed at securing the borders and cleaning up our soil from terrorists and unwanted elements.

Referring to development efforts, the governor said that the government was taking all steps in the social and economic interest of tribesmen.

He said that unprecedented development had taken place during the previous six years and the process was going on but the basic prerequisite for the sustainability of the process was peace and normalcy.—Online