Merger with KP: ‘No decision to be imposed on people of Fata’

MIRANSHAH: KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Wednesday announced a relief package for the affected people of Miranshah Bazaar and inaugurated the "Nawaz Sharif Town" during his visit to North Waziristan Agency.

"Peace and stability has been restored not only in Fata but the country as a whole as a result of the successful operation Zarb-e-Azb," he told a representative tribal jirga of Utmanzai Wazir at Miranshah, the agency headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, during his a day-long visit to the tribal region.

Besides parliamentarians, General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Hasan, Fata additional chief secretary, political agent and other officials were also present. Earlier, the governor was warmly welcomed by tribal elders upon his arrival at Miranshah. He inaugurated the Governor Model School, inspected the under-construction Miranshah Bazaar and Younas Khan Sports Complex.

Addressing the jirga, the governor said the reforms process in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) would be implemented in accordance with the aspirations of the tribal people and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is taking personal interest in this respect.

"No decision will be forced on the people of Fata," assured the governor. Moreover, he added, their suggestions would be given due importance in all kinds of reformative and developmental works in Fata.

The governor said majority of the people in the area were in favour of merging Fata into KP, adding providing quality education and health facilities to the people of Fata was the government's top priority.

He said the dignified return and rehabilitation of displaced persons was the top priority of the government and about 90 per cent temporarily dislocated persons had returned home. The governor said the government was taking effective measures while combating the problems of the people of Fata. He said the Pakistan Army, security forces and tribal people had offered innumerable sacrifices for restoring peace in Fata and we were proud of them.