PESHAWAR: NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that Maulana Sufi Mohammad, chief of banned Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi, is history and media should not project him.

‘Let Sufi Mohammad be history. His popularity graph has declined and people of Malakand will not trust him anymore,’ the minister said while speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday.

When asked about the release of Sufi Mohammad, Mian Iftikhar said that government had neither arrested him nor knew about his whereabouts. ‘Media should not disturb Sufi as he has become history,’ he remarked.

He said that militants were on the run in Malakand and they were not in a position to establish even contact with each other.

He said that ‘third and second cadres’ of the militants had been eliminated in the violence-hit region while top leadership had disappeared.

‘The government, security forces and people of Pakistan must win this war. Pakistan will suffer if militants win in Malakand,’ he said, adding that people involved in militancy or supporting militant groups would be brought to justice. He denied Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam allegations that its workers had been arrested.

Mr Hussain expressed satisfaction over the situation in Swat, Lower Dir and Buner districts, saying that things were moving in right direction.

He said that civil administration had been restored in the troubled parts and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti along with his cabinet members had visited affected areas in Malakand region.

Several members of the provincial assembly were still in their constituencies to visit the areas and meet the affected people.

He said that heads of the law enforcement agencies had briefed the chief minister during his visit to the region, adding the provincial government was satisfied with the outcome of the operation. 

‘Militancy is now matter of days in Malakand and displaced people will start going back to their homes very soon,’ he said, adding that return of the IDPs was being discussed at a high level meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday.

He said in the light of that meeting provincial government would announce schedule for the return of IDPs. The government, he said, would provide transport and other facilities to the displaced families.

He said that electricity had been restored in different parts of Malakand while main hospital in Mingora city had been functioning. He said that lady doctors and nurses were also sent to the hospital on Tuesday.

He, however, criticised performance of Pakistan Telecommunication Company, saying that PTCL had yet to restore telephone lines in the affected areas.

The minister said that over 66,000 cash cards had been issued to internally displaced persons so far and dysfunctional cards were being activated. He said that World Food Programme would start distribution of food items from Wednesday.

He said that government of Oman had announced $10 million donations for IDPs while $2 million had already been provided to the UNHCR.