SPEEN QABAR (BARA): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan on Monday said the repatriation of the people displaced from Bara would begin after February 15 as most parts of the tehsil had been cleared from militants.

He also said Rs850 million had been released for the restoration of electric supply and rehabilitation of schools, health units, roads and streets in Shalobar area ahead of the return of local displaced tribesmen.

The governor was speaking to reporters in Speen Qabar area of Sipah, the hometown of Mangal Bagh, leader of the banned militant outfit, Lashkar-i-Islam.

The visit had been the first by a high government functionary since the army began an operation against militants in the area in September 2009.

Governor says most of tehsil cleared from militants

The governor was accompanied by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Fata additional chief secretary Azam Khan, Frontier Corps inspector general Tayyab Azam, local political agent Shahab Ali Shah, and journalists.

The governor’s vehicular convoy entered Bara Bazaar via Qambarabad Market on Shalobar Road.

Visitors later attended a briefing on security situation of Bara and Tirah, at Al-Haaj market near Bara Bazaar.

The governor’s cavalcade later drove past Alam Gudar and Dogra before reaching Speen Qabar in Sipah, where the governor was again briefed about security arrangements made by Mehsud Scouts after the elimination of miscreants from the region.

The area was considered a stronghold of Lashkar-i-Islam ahead of the beginning of Khyber One military operation in October last year.

The governor said, “we now stand at a place, which was previously a hub of militant activities and where members of proscribed groups used to plan terrorist activities in parts of Khyber Agency, Peshawar and other parts of the country.”

He said security forces had secured complete control of the area after rendering huge sacrifices for the restoration of peace.

Contrary to the expectation that he will announce a final date for the repatriation of Bara IDPs, the governor instead said the government was waiting for the go-ahead of local tribal elders for the purpose.

“We’re ready to begin repatriation anytime,” he said.

Sardar Mahtab said the government earnestly wanted to end militancy in tribal areas and that it was trying to take local tribesmen on board in re-establishing its writ.

“We want to root out militancy from Fata and that no one (troublemakers) will be spared in our efforts meant for restoration of peace here,” he said.

The governor revealed that some top militant commanders had sneaked out of Bara before entering Afghanistan and thus, avoiding the action of security forces.

He said the army’s top leadership was in constant contact with that of Afghan for crackdown on the militants, who had taken refuge on Afghan soil after fleeing Pakistan.

Sardar Mahtab said major reconstruction activities would begin in Bara only after all IDPs were home.

He said in order to revive business and trading activities in the historic Bara bazaar, a major financial rehabilitation plan would be executed in consultation with local traders and businessmen.

“We want to restore the lost glory of Bara Bazaar and rebuild it along modern lines,” he said.

Strict security measures were adopted during the governor’s visit to Bara and that the personnel of FC and khasadar along with regular army were deployed along the roads and atop most building visited by the governor.

Most private houses, shops, plazas, government schools and even mosques were either partially or fully destroyed in the areas seen by the governor.

At most places, militants had chopped down trees and damaged roads and bridges.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2015

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