NWFP Govt toughens stance after threat
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—The NWFP cabinet while rebuffing ultimatum of Baitullah Mehsud to frontier government to quit, Monday expressed the resolve that it would continue with its peace process and warned to come hard on elements bent upon challenging writ of the government.
“We have two options to settle the law and order situation either through talks or to use force,” NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said this while briefing the journalists about the decisions of the special meeting of NWFP cabinet held here with Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti in the chair that took up one point agenda of law and order.
The Minister said that NWFP government has clear policy to solve the law and order issue through jirgas and mutual understanding but government would use force against those elements who were not cooperating with it and not sitting on the table talks. “Police, FC and Army would be used against those disturbing development process and destroying peace,” he added.
He said that law and order situation was not good in the province but government would take measures to improve the situation. Answering a question, he made it clear that the NWFP government would complete its five years term and would not resign on someone’s deadline. “We would not resign by the threat of five-days deadline given by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s Chief Baitullah Mehsud,” he said.
The Minister said that the NWFP government would face all kind of challenges and would respect the mandate of the people. Mian Iftikhar said that mass mobilization campaign would be started in the province to create awareness in the people how to counter terrorism. “All parties including opposition would be taken into confidence for establishing peace,” he added.
He said that peace could not be restored in the province without people support. About Swat agreement, he said that the government had signed agreement with local Taliban and still abide by the accord. Government had released 19 Taliban and 8 would be released soon out of total 60 held Taliban, however it is not an easy job to release all of them as their cases are pending in courts.
He said that Army would be pulled out from Swat when situation would become normal there and 1999 Nizam e Shari Adl act would be implemented in three months time as agreed in the agreement. He urged the media to play its positive role in defusing tension and restoring peace. “Media should give confidence to people instead of spreading fear in masses,” he added. The Information Minister said that situation has improved in Hangu and Jirga was successfully negotiating the issue.
The NWFP government has decided to deal firmly with the elements responsible for creating law and order situation in the province. The decision was made at the meeting of the provincial cabinet held here under the chairmanship of NWFP Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti here on Monday.
Unidentified shooters killed Malik Shah Jahan, a tribal head who was supporting government policies, in Bajaur. According to details, the tribal head as well as the agency chief Malik Shah Jahan was heading to Khar the headquarter of Mehmand agency when he was shot dead by some anonymous shooters near Shandi Morr. Five others including the chief and Malik Ayyaz, were injured and transferred to Khar Hospital.