Gilani,Kayani visit Swat

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Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani (3rd R) visiting a girls school in Mingora.


SWAT: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Monday that terrorists were on the run and they would be eliminated soon.

Addressing a gathering of elders on his first visit to Swat since the return of displaced persons, he said the government had to launch military operation to enforce its writ.

He said that no one would now be allowed to dishonour women, stop them from getting education, make their lives miserable and create lawlessness.

He said: ‘Terrorists are on the run and they are divided’ with their leader presumed dead.

‘Pakistan’s existence and sovereignty are above everything and we will never compromise on security and wellbeing of our people.’

Mr Gilani urged the people of Swat and Malakand to be wary of ‘black sheep’ who might mislead them and create problems for them and the country.

NWFP Governor Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also attended the meeting.

The prime minister said the Swat valley was more beautiful than Switzerland and vowed to revive its tourism industry.

He urged people to come up with suggestions to revive business activities and assured them of complete government support.

He said the government would soon announce a special package for Swat which would include reconstruction, rehabilitation of the affected people and initiate new development projects.

Mr Gilani announced the setting up of the office of the National Vocational & Technical Education Commission in Swat and relaxation of the age-limit to 28 years and lowering the minimum educational qualification to bachelors for local youths to get skilled training with a monthly stipend of Rs10,000.

He also announced construction of Dargai-Mingora dual carriageway and said funds for the project would be sought from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan.

The prime minister ordered early payment of compensation to displaced persons, including those who had not left Swat. He praised the people who had taken part in the military operation.

He asked each of the four provincial chief ministers to nominate a minister to represent their provinces at a flag-hoisting ceremony to be held in Swat on August 14.

He assured the people of Swat, Malakand and adjoining areas that the government would take all measures to provide best possible facilities to them.

Mr Gilani expressed the hope that peace would soon be restored and said that the government had geared up its machinery to rebuild the affected areas.

He said it was essential for the new generation to differentiate between the right and the wrong.

The prime minister and the Punjab chief minister were earlier received in Mingora by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Mr Gilani and General Kayani were briefed by the corps commander and the commissioner of Malakand division on the status of operation Rah-i-Rast and security environment in the area.

Addressing a gathering of army jawans, the prime minister said: ‘I am confident that your presence in the area will not only discourage regrouping of anti-state elements but also improve the pace of development in the area.’

He paid rich tribute to the jawans who laid down their lives for eliminating extremists and terrorists from the Malakand division.

Mr Gilani said the army had successfully completed the first phase of its mission and expressed the hope that it would overcome the challenges of displaced persons’ rehabilitation in collaboration with the local administration.

He said the government was pursuing a policy of reconciliation and consultation with all institutions.

‘When militants tried to damage the national sovereignty, the government, army and nation with their exemplary unity broke their back,’ he said.

The prime minister visited a girls school in Mingora where he was greeted by students with slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.

He announced upgradation of the school from secondary to higher secondary level. He interacted with the students and listened to their problems.—APP