PESHAWAR, Oct 7: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said being an independent and sovereign nation the upholding of honour and dignity as well as security and solidarity of Pakistan is our first priority, saying the tribesmen have also rendered valuable sacrifices for the cause of the country and in future too they are expected to express the same zeal and spirit.

Speaking at a big representative tribal jirga comprising the elders of Mohmand Agency particularly belonging to the Khoezai and Baizai areas here at the Governor’s House on Tuesday, the governor said that we have full confidence over the tribesmen that they would never allow any one to use their territory for anti-state activities at the cost of their independence.

The jirga was convened by the governor in recognition of the unprecedented cooperation extended by the respective tribes in the process of establishing the writ of the government and securing the borders.

The governor said: “We are against every form of terrorism because it is against the spirit of Islam. We cannot allow any one to play with the lives of innocent people in the name of Islam.”

Mr Shah while diverting the attention of the tribesmen towards the geo-strategic scenario of the region, said that high responsibilities rested on the shoulders of the tribal elders and hoped that like the past they would discharge their responsibilities with full sense of patriotism and dedication.

He was also hopeful that the environment of understanding and mutual confidence developed in the tribal areas would also continue in the days to come and we would strive jointly and collectively to achieve the targets of security and development of our motherland.

Turning to the backwardness of the tribal areas particularly Khoezai Baizai of Mohmand Agency, the governor said that without tracing the reasons for that backwardness, the government is now fully committed to speedily develop this area.

The government had already announced Rs158m development fund for the area and implementation has been initiated.