PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has said that around 36,000 families of internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency have returned from the Khost province of Afghanistan and have been registered at the Ali Zai area of Kurram Agency.

The governor said that after the successful completion of the targeted operation, the dignified repatriation of all the IDPs was the government’s top priority, marking a new beginning of progress in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

Know more: Fleeing tribesmen consider Afghanistan safer

He expressed these views while talking to a representative delegation of prominent personalities of North Waziristan Agency at the Governor House here on Friday, according to a handout. 

The delegation led by former federal secretary Fareed Khan comprised former senior bureaucrats, technocrats, doctors and elders. Fata additional chief secretary Azam Khan and principal secretary to governor Dr Mohammad Fakhre Alam were also in attendance.

Mr Mehtab said that the purpose of the targeted operation in North Waziristan was to wipe out all the terrorist sanctuaries and terrorist activities from the region. He said that stability and development of the country was not possible without restoration of peace and harmony in the tribal region. He said that with the support of tribal people, the whole nation was behind the armed forces for the operation.

The governor said that the government was taking care of the internally displaced persons, providing them every possible support.

He said that the Fata Reforms Commission had conducted meetings with all the stakeholders to push forward the Fata reforms process with the consent and wishes of tribal people.

Mr Mehtab said that people of North Waziristan had left their homes and native places for the great national cause and their sacrifices would never go in vain. He said that the spirit of patriotism of the Fata people was above board.

The governor pointed out that as per directives and keen interest of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the federal government had already provided relief to the IDPs of North Waziristan.

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014