PARACHINAR: Corps commander, Peshawar, Lt-Gen Nazir Ahmed Butt said on Wednesday that the security forces had wiped out the militants’ command and control system in tribal areas by rendering great sacrifices.

He was addressing a tribal jirga in Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency. Commandant Kurram militia Omar Malik and political agent Baseer Khan Wazir were also present on the occasion.

He also reviewed security situation along the Pak-Afghan border and laid foundation stone of Army Public School and College in Parachinar.

Addressing the jirga of tribal elders, he said that militants had been flushed out from the tribal belt by dismantling their command and control system and centres. He said that now there were no chances of their (militants) regrouping.

Lt-Gen Butt lays foundation stone of APS Parachinar

The corps commander said that 95 per cent elements involved in three incidents of militancy in Kurram had been arrested.

He said that security had been beefed up in the agency and at the Afghan border.

He said that the government had allocated a special package of Rs800 million for Kurram Agency. He said that this amount would be spent on construction of educational institutions, roads and hospitals to bring positive changes in the violence-hit tribal agency.

Laying foundation stone of the Army Public School and College, Lt-Gen Butt said that there would be 40 classrooms in the APS Parachinar.

He said that the APS would have capacity of accommodating 1,200 students. He directed the quarters concerned to arrange three shifts for timely completion of the construction work on the building.

He also ordered establishment of playgrounds and planting trees on the site.

The corps commander also directed for installation of solar system and other facilities at the new park in Parachinar.

The tribal elders welcomed establishment of APS and paid tribute to the army chief for fulfilling his promise.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2017