Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday asked militants to give
positive response to the dialogue offer by the provincial government, adding
that those not willing to surrender their arms would not be included in the
peace efforts.
“We can not forgive those playing with the future of the Pakhtun nation on
behest of the foreign elements, but violence and using force is not a solution
to the problems,” the Chief Minister said while addressing separate public
gatherings in district Buner and Mardan during his visits to the areas on
Monday.
He was accompanied by provincial president of the Awami National Party
Afrasiab Khattak, provincial ministers including Arbab Ayyub Jan, Mian Iftikhar
Hussain, Arshad Abdullah, Sardar Hussain Babak, Syed Aqil Shah and political
secretary to the CM Syed Masoom Shah.
The CM addressed the rallies at Rustam (Mardan) and Kangar Gali (Buner).
Addressing the gatherings, Ameer Haider Hoti said that his government will go
all-out in giving protection to the life and property of the people in combating
the elements refusing to surrender before it.
He said the Awami National Party had rendered numerous sacrifices for the
survival and defence of the Pakhtun nation and they believed in protecting the
motherland and the nation by keeping their personal or political interests
aside.
“Unfortunately during the last five to six years, the past rulers did the
politics of interests and overlooked the interests of the nation and their
policies led to spreading of the insurgency and terrorism activities from tribal
areas to settled parts of the province,” the chief minister said.
However, he said the Awami National Party accepted the challenge of defending
the Pakhtun’s soil and steering the nation out of the crises.
Ameer Haider Hoti said that violence was not the solution and every problem
could be resolved through jirga and negotiations. However, he said a jirga could
only succeed if both the parties were agreed to reconciliation.
He said that it was responsibility of the government to take measures for
ensuring protection to the life and property of the people against the elements
trying to create lawlessness and challenging the government’s writ.
He said that every individual of the soil would rise to protect the motherland
and the nation from the nefarious designs of the anti-state elements.
The chief minister said that the projects of Rustam Ambela Bypass Road and
Rustam Malandari Buner Road would play a key role in development and prosperity
of the areas.
Besides these projects, he added, the government had approved Singaho-Buner road
via Kangar Gali. He also announced construction of Rustam-Surkhabi road and a
girl college in Rustam.
The chief minister also directed for removing shortage of staff in Rustam High
School and Rustam Hospital besides working out feasibility report of drinking
water scheme in Badam area and announced Rs2 lac for library in Sadhom Children
Academy.
In his address, provincial president of the ANP, Afrasiab Khattak, said that the
Yousafzai tribe of the area had always played a significant and active role in
safeguarding the interests and rights of the Pakhun nation.
Referring to the demands of education institutes, Khattak said that great
freedom fighter Bacha Khan had participated in every effort leading promotion of
education among the Pakhtuns. He said being followers of Bacha Khan, they would
replace the darkness of ignorance with the light of education.
He said that conspiracies against the Pakhtun nation had been carried out on
both sides of the Durand Line, adding that they would not let the enemies of the
nation succeed in their designs.
He said that the ANP chief Asfandyar Wali was playing a key role in settling
down the tension between the two neighboring countries Pakistan and India.
District Mardan nazim Himayatullah Mayar also spoke on the occasion and said
that under the dynamic leadership of the NWFP chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti,
the process of developmental activities were in full swing across the province.
Later on, addressing a big public gathering at Kangar Gali in Buner district,
the chief minister said that they were even ready for talks with elements who
masterminded a suicide attack at the Hujra of Asfandyar Wali Khan if they were
ready to live in peace and shun path of the bloodshed.
On this occasion the chief minister announced establishment of a college in the
area, construction of a small dam, water supply scheme, up-gradation of two
middle schools, and a package of Rs50 million for five union councils of Kangar
Gali.
Meanwhile, talking to office-bearers of the Buner Press Club, the chief minister
announced a grant of Rs5 lac.