PESHAWAR, Sept 7: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has expressed anguish over the recent acts of sabotage and disturbance in the South Waziristan Agency and warned development work in the area will be stopped if such incidents continue. “This situation amounts to challenging the writ of the government which will be established at all costs”, he said while talking to Maulana Abdul Malik, MNA from the South Waziristan Agency, who had called on him at the Governor’s House here on Wednesday.
The governor, while referring to the recent sabotage acts and target killing in the Wazir area of the agency, said that all tribes had entered into agreements with the government and had taken responsibility of protecting their respective areas.
These incidents, he said, showed that the tribes had either failed or were indifferent to their pledge and resolve. Peace was imperative in the area for speedy development, the governor added.
“If tribesmen do not care for maintenance of peace, the government would take every step to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the area by applying the local laws”, the governor maintained.
He said development process could not be carried on in an atmosphere of insecurity and disturbance. He urged the MNA to persuade the area tribes to follow the agreements and ensure peace and security, which was basically in their own interest.
ORAKZAI AGENCY’S ELDERS: Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has urged upon elders of the Orakzai Agency to resolve their mutual differences amicably, saying a peaceful and hormonal atmosphere would benefit tribes in their journey towards progress and development.
Talking to a 15-member delegation of elders of Orakzai Agency, which called on him here at the Governor House on Wednesday, he said that the agency had vast mineral deposits and the government would take every step for their maximum exploitation in larger interest of the area people.
Senator Tahir Iqbal Orakzai and Political Agent Sher Alam Jan Mehsud were also present on the occasion. The governor said he would talk to elders of other tribes as well and differences among them on certain issues would be resolved through jirga.
Responding to a demand the governor said funds for construction of a central hospital in the agency had been made available and the project was at planning stage.
He also assured the delegation that water supply schemes in the agency would be equally focused on. The governor also emphasised sectarian harmony in the agency, urging the elders to play their traditional role in this regard.