Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Saturday said that most of the areas in FATA have been cleared off militants and peace restored at the cost of sacrifices rendered by tribal people and soldiers of the Pakistan army.
The governor was speaking to a tribal jirga of Shinwari, Zakhakhel, Shalmani, Kokikhel and other elders from Khyber Agency after the groundbreaking ceremony of 220 million worth Landi Khana water supply in Landi Kotal.
The governor said that names of those who rendered human and material losses for the sake of Pakistan would be written in the history with golden words. He said the government was compelled to conduct military operations after several rounds of peace talks failed with Taliban groups. He praised tribal people who extended their moral support to the army in the war against terrorism.
Jhagra offered special prayers for the soul of martyred Pakistan Army major Jawad Khan Changezi who lost his life while defending Pakistan’s border at Torkham. He said Jawad was a national hero as all Pakistanis saluted the bravery and courage he showed on the Pak-Afghan border in the Torkham clash last month. The governor announced Rs 0.5 million for the widow of the martyr, Jawad Khan Changezi.
The governor termed Abdul Sattar Edhi as the legend of the 21st century who served humanity without discrimination.
Later, talking to reporters Jhagra said that all the Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan would be sent back to Afghanistan. He said they were in contact with the Afghan government to voluntarily send Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.
Regarding the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the governor said that repatriation of displaced people had already been started and would be completed by the end of this year.
To a question, Jhagra said that the fate of FATA would be decided with the consent of all the tribal people.
Khyber Agency Political Agent Khalid Mehmood, Landikotal Assistant Political Agent Rahimullah Mehsud, Jamrud APA Muhammad Arif, Senator Momeen Khan and Christian and Sikh communities were also present on the occasion.