Brigade rotation: Jirga resolves to eradicate militancy

Aman jirga urges government to do more for education in Swat.


Fazal Khaliq January 24, 2011

SWAT: Nepki Khel Aman Jirga has reiterated their resolve to eradicate militancy and extremism in Swat.

Addressing the farewell party of the 107 Brigade of Pakistan Army, the elders of the jirga said the outgoing soldiers did a “commendable” job in uniting the elders and bringing peace to the valley.

Addressing the jirga, Brigadier Saeed Ahmad Nagra, the brigade commander, said, “Today’s [gathering where] the elders of the area are breaking bread with the army is clear proof that the Swati people are patriotic Pakistanis who want peace and development. The army has rooted out the militancy and will never again let anyone harm peace here.”

Referring to the rumours that the army was abandoning Swat, he said, “The forces are not vacating Swat -- we have come here to eliminate the militancy and will stay here till the last extremist [is vanquished], this is a normal brigade rotation.”

Appreciating the role of the local people in maintaining peace and in flood relief activities, he said, “Local people worked hand in hand with soldiers during the relief and rehabilitation activities in Swat.”

He added, “We have strong leads on the militants’ activities; we have complete control of the valley and are arresting militants on a daily basis.”

“Fazlullah and his companions are not only traitors to the country but also our religion as they defamed Islam, due to which the international community is pointing fingers at us.” Saifullah Khan, the president of Nepki Khel Aman Jirga, said, “Today we are able to run our businesses, work, and take part in other social activities, which were not possible during the dark days of the militancy. We have to be united because our disunity harmed us in the past.”

Idrees Khan, president of the local village defence committee and member of the jirga, said, “We have the same enemy and we will work together to crush them.”

He stressed the importance of rehabilitating schools, saying that the government must reconstruct the school buildings immediately. Education, he said, was key to combating extremism. “If we do not give modern education to our children, they will follow the next Fazlullah.”

Advocate Firoz Shah, another member of the jirga, said, “We have to maintain our national identity by fighting and eliminating militants. No terrorist will be allowed to destroy our peaceful land again.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

Ben | 13 years ago | Reply The only possible way to fight and defeat the extremist forces in Pakistan is revival of Jinnah's vision of secular Pakistan where the clergy does not have a role of dictating their terms. Read more at: link text
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