PESHAWAR, July 21: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has urged the tribesmen of North Waziristan Agency not to provide shelter to foreign elements, warning more search operations will be conducted in the agency if the tribal elders fail to fulfil their responsibilities. Speaking at a representatives jirga of Wazir and Daur tribes of the North Waziristan Agency at the Governor’s House here on Thursday, he said: “The recent events have proved the presence of foreigners in the North Waziristan Agency. These people cannot live there unless they have the support of the local people.”

He assured that the tribal elders would be taken into confidence while carrying out search operations. “Such operations will take place with coordination among the army, the political administration and the elders,” he said.

He stressed that the tribal elders should realize their responsibilities to ensure that their areas were clean of foreigners. “These foreigners are not your friends. They have problems with their governments and are trying to use our soil to fight for their political motives,” he said.

The governor regretted that the tribal elders had failed to control their people and the areas which was the sole reason for an increase in their difficulties and erosion of their status.

He referred to certain recent events of killings in the area, including the murder of an Intelligence Bureau inspector, and said that as per collective responsibility, the tribesmen had failed to apprehend the culprits or prevent such incidents.

“Tell your youngsters not to get involved in militancy,” he urged the tribal elders.

Mr Rehman stressed that foreigners should not be given shelter and the elders should play their traditional role in this regard.

“In case the foreigners are not evicted from the area, there will be no option but to conduct search operations,” he said.

He said that he would never like to harm the tribesmen. “I want the tribal areas at par with other parts of the country. I want to provide you health and education facilities, clean drinking water and also want you to enjoy the fruits and benefits of scientific development.”

“This will be possible only when there is a complete peace and normalcy in the area and the tribesmen fulfil their responsibilities effectively,” he added.

The governor announced the acceptance of genuine demands of the tribal elders, saying that the government was chalking out a formula to solve problems of electricity billing once for all and expressed the hope that it would be acceptable to all the tribesmen.

Earlier, the elders apprised the governor of their reservations to the search operations and demanded that the elders should be taken into confidence before carrying out such operations.

Principal Secretary to the Governor, Brig (retd) Asad Munir, Secretary Fata (security) Arbab Mohammad Arif and Political Agent Tariq Hayat were present on the occasion.

GROWERS STRIKE ENDS: According to APP, NWFP’s Association of Tobacco Growers announced on Thursday its decision to call off a two-week long strike. The strike was launched to press the government to increase tobacco prices and revise decisions of the Tobacco Board in this regard.