Tribesmen urged to make peace pact a sucess
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—NWFP Governor Lt. Gen (retd) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai has congratulated the Utmanzai tribes of North Waziristan Agency for the historical peace agreement, urging them to make the agreement a success in their own interest and in the interest of the country.
The Waziristan agreement, he added was being commended internationally, which is a matter of proud and a remarkable achievement as well. Addressing a big tribal Jirga of Utmanzai Wazir and Daur tribes of North Waziristan Agency during his visit to the agency headquarters on Monday the Governor said that in fact the Waziristan agreement has changed the world’s mindset and now the international community has realized that what they wanted to achieve through use of force could easily be achieved through peaceful means and negotiations.
The elders, ulemas, Maliks and youth in a large number attended the Jirga. The Inspector General Frontier Corps Major General Muhammad Alam Khattak, MNA Maulana Nek Zaman, Additional Chief Secretary FATA Mr. Javed Iqbal, Agency Political Agent Dr. Fakhr-e-Alam Irfan and other officials were also present on the occasion. The elders presented the Governor a traditional turban and other tribal gifts on the occasion.
Governor Aurakzai said that the success of the agreement now rests on the efforts of the elders adding that its success was also imperative for peace and stability in the region. He said that peace agreement has become a role model and now the people are seriously considering its replication in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kashmir.
The Governor appreciated the role played by the tribal elders and the grand tribal Jirga. He said that the peace agreement has revived the traditional status of tribal Jirga and has upheld the prestige of the tribesmen as a whole. The Governor invited attention of the tribesmen towards the international scenario saying that our tribal areas have become the focal point of the world attention.
“Fata is under flashlights and we have to realize the gravity of the situation and secure our national interest”, he stressed. Unfortunately, he added negative perceptions had emerged about FATA on many counts that had to be dispelled and cleared off. “We are not what the world thinks of us”, the Governor said adding “we are democratic and peace loving people, having unique system of justice and equality”.
“We have to prove to the world that the tribal society is an egalitarian and democratic society and the tribesmen are patriotic, sensible and civilized people,” he said adding that “In fact the tribal society is a unique society where there is no disparity whatsoever and all the segments of the tribal society enjoy equal status and honour”.
The Governor noted with pleasure that a positive change in the mindset of the tribal people had been witnessed. “It is a good omen for the future of the tribal areas that the tribal people have awakened and now they are seeking development and progress in every field of life”, he said.
Governor Aurakzai said that the people call the tribal area as “Azad Qabail” but in fact we are the slaves of poverty, illiteracy and backwardness. “We have to break out of this prison and march towards progress and prosperity”, he stressed. He said that FATA remained neglected and backward in the past due to the slackness of both the govt. and the tribesmen. However he said that peace and tranquillity was vital for development and reiterated the government’s firm resolve that development in the tribal areas would be focused in the years to come.
Turning to development initiatives, the Governor said Rs. 1.22 billion were being spent on the development of the agency during current financial year as compared to the last year’s development budget of Rs. 780 million.