Recovery of girls: K-P governor requests Sindh govt to ensure girls’ safety

Directs Bajaur Agency’s political agent to find out and contact parents of these girls

PESHAWAR: Taking a prompt notice of recovery of 26 girls of Bajaur Agency from a house in Karachi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan has established contacts with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and requested him to take early steps for safety of the girls.

“I have suggested the Sindh government to shift these girls to a safe place and directed the K-P chief secretary to hold a detailed inquiry into the matter,” the K-P governor told The Express Tribune during a brief interview at Governor House Peshawar on Wednesday.

He said he has also contacted Federally Administered Tribal Areas’ (Fata) additional chief secretary, Bajuar Agency’s political agent and elected representatives of the area.

“I have also directed Bajaur Agency’s political agent to find out and contact parents of these girls immediately,” he said. In response to a question, Sardar Mehtab said so far it was premature to say whom and for what purposes these girls were locked in a house.

“Now the K-P government is in contact with the Sindh government at every level and modalities are being discussed for safety and handing over of these girls to their parents,” he added.

He said the matter is of great concern to the government and that it is determined to probe it and take action against those involved in picking up and locking these girls in a house.

Answering to a question, the governor expressed satisfaction at ongoing military operations – Zarb-e-Azab in North Waziristan Agency and Khyber One in Khyber Agency – and said most of the militants have either escaped or killed and surrendered to the administration.

“Almost all parts of both the tribal agencies have been cleared of militants whereas efforts are underway for ensuring the writ of law on a permanent footing,” he claimed.

Referring to miseries and hardships of Internally Displaced People (IDPs), Governor Mehtab said: “Facing inadequate facilities and lack of due infrastructure is natural after destitution and displacement.”

He justified complaints of IDPs but claimed that the government is trying its level best to ensure maximum facilities to these people.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2014.