Zardari hits out at govt treatment of IDPs

Zardari recalls how IDP crisis in 2009 was handled, says there is no reason why it cannot be tackled responsibly.

ISLAMABAD: Former president and Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari has asked the government to give up its callous attitude towards the internally displaced people (IDPs) of North Waziristan who are stranded in camps in Bannu and gear up relief and rehabilitation efforts on a war footing.

According to spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, the former president said the IDPs are our national heroes in the war against terror and neglecting them is a criminal and callous act that cannot be condoned under any circumstances.

Asif Zardari added that official neglect of IDPs and attempts by charitable organizations of defunct militant groups secretly engaged in indoctrinating the displaced people under the guise of philanthropy will makes IDPs sympathise with the militants.

The PPP co-chairman recalled how the IDP crisis in 2009 was handled and said there is no reason why such challenges cannot be tackled responsibly.

He added that war against terror is a global fight. If the international community is to assist Pakistan in this struggle, there is no reason why it should not help in the rehabilitation of the IDPs, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2014.