This message was received from the tribal areas this afternoon, Monday, May 7, 2007:
Dear John E. Carey,
I hope you and your team at the Peace and Freedom will be in the best spirit of life. You and your team has bringing positive change in the attitude of the US administration through your balanced approach to the issues.
There are still some officials who who have been supporting Taliban and terrorists.
It is ironic to note here that NWFP governor, who is the controlling authority of tribal areas has called a meeting of the terrorists for discussing peace initiatives in Bajaur Agency, tribal areas.I want to bring in your notice that the terrorists, the maliks and socalled elders of Pakistani officials have been financing the Taliban. They have been providing funds to the Taliban for carrying out their activities in the tribal areas.
The governor in his address to the socalled elders and maliks called for efforts to bring peace in the tribal areas. The governor in his hypocrite address said that the tribal elders must take steps for restoration of peace.The NWFP Governor Lt. Gen. (R) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai appreciated the collective pledge made by all the tribes of Bajaur Agency for curbing militancy and maintaining peace in the Agency.
Terming the peace undertaking given by the “Qaum” as a significant development, the Governor added that the success of the undertaking will now depend on its full implementation so that militant tendencies are effectively censured. The tribesmen of Bajaur Agency have once again proved their loyalty with the country and desire for peace and tranquility”, the Governor added while addressing a big representative tribal Jirga, comprising elders, councilors and parliamentarians of the Agency, held at Jirga Hall of the Governor’s House here on Monday.
Secretary to Governor Azmat Hanif, Secretary Law and Order FATA Arbab Muhammad Arif and Political Agent Bajaur Agency Shakil Qadir were also present on the occasion.It is the collective responsibility of every one in the Agency to ensure that the peace undertaking is implemented”, he stressed and suggested to constitute a monitoring committee comprising representatives of each tribe, which should supervise the implementation of the accord.
The Governor however expressed some concern about a few incidents of lawlessness, which occurred in the post-accord period and desired that the elders should play their due role in identifying and apprehending the culprits. The Governor also made a mention about the activities of certain masked men threatening the people in different ways and said that those were in fact “anti-social elements”, which were out to destroy the traditional tribal system.
He said that Islam was not the issue in tribal areas because the tribesmen were traditionally religious and religiously traditional. “Such elements had no role and place in the tribal system”, the Governor said. Governor Ali Jan said that Islam had laid stress on education without gender discrimination. Female education was as much necessary as that for males and we could not keep half of our population illiterate and uneducated.
The Governor urged the elders to form local peace and surveillance committees to ensure peace in their respective areas as well as to thwart such nefarious attempts by misguided elements. He said that the Govt. was fully alive to its responsibilities towards maintenance of peace and could deal with any situation with the cooperation of tribal elders.
Governor Aurakzai said that the govt. was keen in the development of tribal areas and we should take full advantage of the fresh opportunities in this regard.
He said that FATA Sustainable Development Plan was ready for launching, adding a very useful interaction with the donors had been made, who were eager to help in resource generation and implementation of the plan. The Govt. he added would provide Rs. 60 billion out of its own resources for this 124 billion rupees project spreading over a period of nine years. The remaining amount would be made available by donor countries and international organizations.
“It was a golden opportunity for the uplift of tribal area and we must catch on this opportunity”, he said.Governor Ali Jan expressed his concern over reports about poppy cultivation in some parts of the Agency and underlined the need for a “Qaumi Taroon” to eradicate poppy from the Agency. Regarding demands made in the Sepasnama, the Governor assured that these would be given due consideration while finalizing development plan for the next financial year.
The Governor reminded the Jirga that govt. was already following a fund distribution formula, where factors like population, area and state of development were given due weightage.Earlier Malik Muhammad Daud Khan presented Sepasnama in which he reiterated the commitment of the tribesmen of Bajaur Agency to guard the ideological and geographical frontiers of Pakistan .
He said that tribesmen of Bajaur Agency were peace loving by nature and would leave no stone unturned to maintain peace and tranquility in the area by extending full cooperation to the administration in this regard. He also highlighted some of the development requirements of the area and demanded development schemes in the education, health, communication and agriculture sectors. The Governor assured that all genuine demands of the people would be given due consideration to ensure the prosperity of the people.
The government can control terrorism if they show sincerity. But at the moment they have been showing that they are not serious in eradication of terrorism. Actually through terrorism, the officials have been earning the money. On the one hand they have been receiving dollars from the United States and on the other looting the innocent people through terrorists and taliban.
Thank you very much,
Yours sincerely,
Muhammad Khurshid
Khar, Bajaur Agency,tribal areas Pakistan.
