QUETTA: Handing over the keys of newly-built houses to families of Frontier Corps (FC) personnel who died while fighting terrorists, Commander, Southern Command, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz has praised the valour with which the security agency’s men are helping restore peace in Balochistan.

“No doubt, credit goes to FC heroes and martyrs who played a remarkable role in restoring peace and order in the province,” he said at a ceremony here on Friday.

Although peace had been restored, more efforts were needed to annihilate the agents of the enemy forever, he said.

He said the political leadership, bureaucracy, army, the FC, teachers, students and people from all walks of life should play their role in maintaining peace.

External elements were hatching conspiracies but the security forces were foiling their designs, Lt Gen Riaz said while announcing support and cooperation to the families of fallen soldiers.

FC Inspector General Maj Gen Sher Afgun said around 675 officials and personnel of the force had died while fighting terrorism in Balochistan during the past decade and the corps had decided to allot houses to their families.

The FC would observe ‘Martyrs Day’ on Sept 5, he said, announcing that the force would bear the education and dowry expenses of the children of the deceased personnel.

On the occasion, keys to the homes built in Mianwali, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Khyber Agency, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak, Attock, Abbottabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Kohat and Nushki were given to families belonging to the areas.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2016