By Daud Khattak
Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told journalists that more incidents of terrorism were expected in and around Peshawar in view of the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan, Khyber and Orakzai agencies.
“This is a test for the people and the government and terrorists can’t shake our resolve by targeting civilians or the security agencies,” said Mian Iftikhar, who recalled the increasing number of bomb attacks in cities during the anti-militants operation in Malakand Division less than six months ago.
Despite all those pressure tactics by militants, the army should continue with the operation in Waziristan as the security forces had the full backing of the people who wanted an end to the scourge of terrorism and militancy once and for all, he stressed.
Alongside the action in Waziristan, Mian Iftikhar suggested that the army should start targeted operation in areas like Khyber and Orakzai agencies where the militants form Waziristan are said to have taken refuge. “This action must not stop till a single terrorist is alive,” he said.
The minister said that focus should be on Waziristan, which was converted into their capital by both local and international militants. At the same time, he said, militants should be targeted anywhere they try to flee and hide in the country.
Mian Iftikhar expressed ignorance when asked about escape of Hakimullah Mahsud and his other commanders to Afghanistan in a helicopter reportedly sent by the US army into Waziristan.
Former chief of army staff Aslam Beg was quoted as saying that American troops had airlifted Hakimullah Mahsud and his commanders to Afghanistan and they were safe there.
NWFP Finance Minister Humayun Khan, who was also present on the occasion, said the NWFP team would attend the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting scheduled to be held in Karachi today (Wednesday) as the federal government had ordered the release of Rs10 billion to NWFP as first instalment of the agreed Rs110 billion in terms of net hydel profit.
Earlier, the NWFP government had warned of a boycott of the two-day NFC meeting if the first instalment of Rs10 billion, promised by the prime minister during his recent visit to Peshawar, was not released to the provincial government before the meeting.
The federal government agreed to pay Rs110 billion in terms of net hydel profit to the province till 2004-05. The first instalment of Rs10 billion was released on Tuesday while rest of the amount would be given on quarterly basis with Rs25 billion per instalment.
About writing off of taxes for the people of Malakand, Humayun Khan said they had requested the federal government not to recover agriculture and other taxes from the people for at least three years. He said the provincial government was also pondering over writing off taxes, which are coming in its domain.
Both Mian Iftikhar and Humayun Khan said their call regarding non-participation in the NFC meeting was not a threat. They said the provincial government was thankful to the president, prime minister and the finance minister for taking so much interest in release of the money for the province. They said their call was, however, a reminder to the federal government to pay the first instalment as was promised earlier.