PESHAWAR, Jan 12: Military authorities have decided to release tribesmen before Eidul Azha, who were arrested during action in Shakai valley of the South Waziristan Agency last year.

The elders of Shakai valley, who called on Corps Commander Lt- Gen Safdar Hussain here on Wednesday, also requested amnesty for those who surrendered to the government a few months ago, said an ISPR press release. Former federal minister Malik Faridullah Khan led the 80-member delegation.

The jirga, according to the ISPR press release pledged that the respective tribes would furnish security on the behalf of arrested persons that they would remain peaceful in future.

Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain appreciated cooperation and support of the inhabitants of Shakai valley for making their area free of militants. He also announced that families who had suffered losses during military operation in Manadata area of the South Waziristan would be compensated.

The commander assured the delegation that affected people would receive financial assistance to rebuild their houses which had been damaged during action. Acknowledging support of the residence of Shakai area, he said militants were dislodged from the area due to active cooperation of local population.

The army has chalked out a development plan to make Shakai a model town of the South Waziristan agency and engineer corps would supervise all uplift schemes being undertaken in the valley, Mr Hussain said.

He assured that Army Public Schools would be constructed in Shakai having boarding and accommodation facilities for students and teachers to improve education standard of the area. The establishment of such institutions would promote education in the area, the corps commander said.

On this occasion Malik Fariduulah Khan demanded special quota for Shakai in Khasadar force. He said that tribesmen of Shakai signed peace deals with the government despite threats from the terrorists and pledged to abide by all agreements reached with the government.