Apex Committee vows expeditious steps to ensure TDPs dignified return

PESHAWAR: The Apex Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here Thursday decided to take expeditious steps to ensure the dignified return of the Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) to their native areas, an official handout said.

Chaired by Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, the meeting reviewed the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). The members discussed the matters related to the return process of displaced persons with special focus on the overall law and order situation in the province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt General Hidayat ur Rehman, Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Inspector General Police Nasir Khan Durrani, Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj Gen Mazhar Shaheen Mahmood, Frontier Constabulary Commandant Liaqat Ali Khan, Fata Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Aslam Kamboh and other officials, the handout added.

It said the committee discussed in detail the law and order situation prevailing in the province and Fata. The participants reviewed the progress on implementation of the previous decisions and the return process of displaced persons in tribal areas.

The handout said the committee members reviewed the progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan. They expressed satisfaction at the progress and directed further steps in this regard.

The participants were briefed about the pace of progress on the ongoing security measures as well as the return and rehabilitation arrangements in the affected areas.

The handout quoted the participants as saying that the closure of illegal SIMs being used for criminal activities would strictly be ensured and further steps taken in this regard. They also reviewed the progress regarding the measures taken with regard to the elimination of illegal transactions.

In his remarks, Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra noted that the entire nation was united in the war against militancy and terrorism.“Terrorism in any form will be eliminated and our brave forces will not let the sacrifices rendered by the people to go waste,” he added.

The Governor said the nation had declared the war against terrorism and stood united with the security forces to uproot militancy and terrorism.  He assured that every possible effort would be made to ensure early and dignified return of the Temporarily Displaced Persons and undertake their rehabilitation.The Governor said provision of facilities in the Temporarily Displaced Persons return process would be ensured at all costs.