BANNU: Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said on Wednesday that restoring lasting peace in the southern districts was the top priority of the provincial government.
During his daylong visit to Bannu along with Minister Malik Pakhtunyar Khan, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, he assured that all legitimate demands of the elders would be fulfilled with the full support of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Bannu Division Commissioner Muhammad Ali Shah, Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Fahim, District Police Officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi and other officials were also present.
At a joint press conference with members of the Bannu Core Committee, including former senators Baz Muhammad Khan, Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Dr Pir Sahib Zaman, Barrister Saif said that the provincial government was taking various steps to maintain law and order in southern districts at all costs.
He said that the main purpose of their visit to Bannu was to find out ways and means for the restoration of peace and fulfilling the legitimate demands of the tribal elders.
Barrister Saif also said that the local elders of Bannu district had assured their full cooperation in achieving peace goals.
Later, a representative delegation comprising elders from Wazir Subdivision in Bannu and the Janikhel tribe, including lawmaker Adnan Khan Wazir, Malik Shireen, Malik Shah Muhammad Khan, Malik Shah Karam Khan, Malik Abbas Ali Khan, Bakhtullah Wazir and others, met Barrister Saif, Minister Malik Pakhtunyar, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, and IGP Zulfiqar Hameed.
They informed the officials that the situation in Bannu Division remained volatile as incidents of targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion were on the rise.
They emphasized that to ensure peace, decision-making powers should be given to the tribal jirgas in the merged districts, which could significantly help restore law and order.
They presented several proposals for peace and assured their complete cooperation to the government.
The delegation also presented demands for the development of the underprivileged areas of Subdivision Bannu Bakakhel and Janikhel tribe and their concerns about peace.
On this occasion, the CM aide and others said that the provincial government was giving more powers to the police force and a substantial portion of the upcoming budget would be allocated to the police for stricter security measures.
They acknowledged the sacrifices of the tribal people, saying their loyalty to the country was beyond question and the government held them in high esteem.
They said that the purpose of their visit was to find effective solutions to local issues through mutual consultation between a forum of local officials, commissioner, deputy commissioner, DIG, and DPO, and committees of local elders.They said the police force will be strengthened to take decisive legal action against miscreants.