Heading home: Governor pledges more funds for repatriation of IDPs

Condemns attack on polio team, expresses condolences to bereaved relatives.

PESHAWAR: A 33-member representative tribal jirga of Mehsud elders from South Waziristan Agency (SWA) was convened at the Governor House on Monday to discuss issues of repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

It was the first jirga of its kind since 2008 and was led by Senator Maulana Muhammad Saleh Shah and MNA Maulana Muhammad Jamaluddin. FATA Additional Chief Secretary Arbab Muhammad Arif and SWA Political Agent Islamzeb were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the jirga, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Shaukatullah Khan announced a rehabilitation package for areas where displaced persons have returned. Rs100 million was approved to be released with immediate effect for this purpose. This, the governor said, will be over and above the projects allocated for the areas in the Annual Development Programme.



“The IDPs have courageously faced all the difficulties that came their way when they were displaced for such a long time. The government values their patience,” said Khan. He added the government is also ready to support the rest of the IDPs in their repatriation.

He also assured vacancies in the Gomal Zam Dam project will be filled by giving jobs to locals. Appreciating the presence of tribal elders, the governor said he was now confident stability and peace in the area would continue in the future too.

Meanwhile, Shaukatullah Khan has also condemned the attack on a polio vaccination team and police officials at Badhaber, stated a handout issued by the Governor House.

Expressing shock over the incident, the governor said the sacrifices of these officials and common citizens will be remembered with great honour. He prayed for the lives of the departed souls and early recovery of the injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2013.