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| Militants on the run, Army to stay in Swat: Gilani |
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
By Essa Khankhel
MINGORA: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said security forces with the help of the people of the Malakand Division have defeated militants who are now on the run and the Army will stay in the area till the reconstruction of the affected areas and rehabilitation of the displaced persons.
Speaking at a gathering of local elders here on Monday, the prime minister said the terrorists would soon be eliminated and the government would not allow any one to challenge its writ again in the valley.
He said no one would be allowed to dishonour the women and deny them the right to education.Gilani said those resorting to lawlessness and making life miserable for the people would be dealt with sternly. He urged the people to be aware of those in their ranks, who misled them and created problems for the country.
Prime Minister Gilani, who arrived on an unannounced visit to Swat, said the government would leave no stone unturned to revive the beauty of the Swat Valley and make it once again the Switzerland of Pakistan.
NWFP Governor Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif also accompanied the prime minister. The prime minister lauded the role of the people of the Malakand Division and said with their cooperation the forces had succeeded in flushing the militants out of the area.
ìThey (militants) are now on the run and they will soon be eliminated,î he said. Gilani said militancy had shattered the economic infrastructure in the Malakand Division. He invited proposals from the local people and parliamentarians for the revival of business activities.
The prime minister said besides initiating development projects in the affected areas, the government would announce a special package for Swat to expedite its reconstruction and rehabilitation of people. He said donors had pledged assistance for Swat while the government had already set aside Rs 50 billion to offset delay, if any, in the receipt of funds from the international donors for the rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Announcing the construction of Dargai-Mingora dual carriageway, the prime minister said the government would put in efforts to seek funds through the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum (FODP) for the project.
He asked the four chief ministers to nominate one minister each to represent their respective province at the flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate Independence Day in Swat.Earlier, the prime minister, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, was received by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
They were given a detailed briefing by the corps commander Peshawar and the commissioner of Malakand on the operation Rah-e-Rast and reconstruction in the area.Addressing the soldiers later, Gilani said political and military leadership had been unanimous on the decision that the Army would stay in Malakand Division till the complete rehabilitation of the displaced persons and reconstruction of the areas affected by both militancy and operation.
He said the government, Army and nation are united to break the back of the militants in Swat who had posed threat to the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan.ìI am confident that your presence in the area will not only hamper and discourage regrouping of the anti-state elements, but it will also pace up development process in the area,î the prime minister said.
He paid tributes to the troops who laid down their lives in the line of duty to eliminate terrorists in the Malakand Division.Gilani said the Army had succeeded in completing first phase of its mission and it would also meet the massive challenge of supplementing the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the local administration.
The prime minister visited the Government Girls High School, Wadoodia, in Mingora and announced its upgradation to higher secondary level. He also visited the District Headquarters Hospital and inquired after the health of those injured during the military operation.
Gilani also announced setting up of the National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) in Swat, besides relaxing the age limit to 28 and lowering the qualification to Bachelors so as to enable the local youth get skilled training with a stipend of Rs 10,000. APP adds: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing on the occasion said the entire nation stands united with the people of Swat in these hard times.
ìI have mixed feelings of joy and pain on my visit to Swat, happiness for the people of the area who returned to their hometowns and the life started again and pain for those Army and security forcesí officials who laid down their lives in the operation,î Shahbaz said.
He said that the militants used the name of Islam for their vested interests and played with the lives of innocent people that has earned bad name for the religion globally. The sacrifices of security forcesí personnel would bear fruit and peace would return to the scenic valley, he said. He said the four federating units would not rest until the menace of terrorism was buried as it was the problem of the entire nation and was not limited to any specific area.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
