KOHAT, March 29: About 90 per cent of Orakzai Agency has been cleared of militants and the internally displaced people should now quickly return to the safe areas, said political agent Riaz Khan Masud while speaking at the passing out ceremony of 130 new Levies personnel, held at Orakzai headquarters in Hangu on Tuesday.

On this occasion, five martyred personnel of Levies force of Orakzai Agency were posthumously awarded Taamgha-i-Shujaat.

The heirs of the five tribal police personnel were also given Rs800,000 each on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari by the political agent, in pursuance of the announcement on the Defence Day of Pakistan. The function was attended by a large number of tribal elders.

Mr Masud said that the security forces were battling in a couple of last remaining strongholds of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Orakzai, which would also be freed soon.

He called upon the tribesmen to return to their respective areas for strengthening the hands of the administration in fight against the TTP. He said that the writ of the government could not be restored without the tribesmen’s cooperation.