PESHAWAR (February 08 2009): President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday announced a huge compensation package of Rs 280 million for those killed and wounded in the tribal areas due to militants' attacks. He also vowed to upkeep the promises made by the late premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto with the valiant tribesmen, the true defenders of the country's frontiers.
He was addressing a grand tribal Jirga, comprising all the seven tribal agencies and six Frontier regions at the Governor House here. The President said he was not oblivious to the problems facing the tribal people and was working from day one to mitigate their sufferings.
To achieve the goals of uplift in the hitherto neglected and backward areas of the tribal belt, the President announced immediate increase in the development outlay of the Fata by rupees three billion for the current fiscal, taking it to Rs 11 billion from rupees eight billion. He also announced to double the development programme for the Fata from the present annual development programme (ADP) of rupees eight billion to Rs 16 billion during the next two years.
A total of 610 people had been killed and over 1,000 injured in tribal areas due to the militant attacks, he said, adding: "I am myself a tribesman and knows what is misery. I have passed through all such traumas for 11 years in the jail despite the fact I had the keys of the jail with me, but I never compromised on principles and never succumbed to a dictator."
He urged the tribesmen to demonstrate patience and tolerance in their ranks and files and avoid getting involved in violent acts, which would benefit the opponents. The present regime was determined to save the country and its people from any danger, he added.
He thanked the tribal representatives for reposing confidence in him by voting in his favour in the presidential elections, and promised to honour all the pledges made by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with the tribal people. The President agreed that the militants had misused our soil to launch attacks on the institutions of our country.
However, he said that he would hold dialogue with the international community for elimination of terrorism and they would be assured to have confidence in Pakistan's initiatives against extremism and terrorism. The government of Pakistan and its people had all the potential to fight against terror in an effective manner, he added.
He regretted that no serious effort was made during the last 10 years to extinguish the fire of militancy and terrorism in the Fata and there was total lack of decision-making among the policy-makers at that time resultantly today the settled parts of the country also came under pressure of the terrorism.
"We will advance our arguments with the world community, the United Nations with logic and convinced them that drone attacks were counter productive and the day was not far away when these attacks would be stopped," he said. He said a new thinking was being developed in the US administration about the tribal regions of Pakistan.
The President said the government of Pakistan would plead its case about the attacks on our soils with intellect and convinced them that both sides were at loss. The US was withdrawing forces from Iraq, which was a big development in the region and set a new direction among their think tanks.
"We will also tell them that the solution to the problems in our region could be best settled through our own process. They need only assurances, which was lacking in the country for the last eight to 10 years. We will assure them that the problems of militancy would be resolved," he added.
"We don't believe in wars, today is the era of brain fighting and we have removed a dictator through the same war after 10 years in power and compelled him on double march," he told the Jirga members. "So the same would be applied to the world community in restoring peace in our tribal regions, we have the grounds and logic to defend our case at the international fora and they will listen to us," he said.
President Zardari said the time had come to change the world opinion against the prevalent terrorism in the Fata and the NWFP, and assured them that "we have all the potential and capabilities to face these challenges." He agreed that in drone attacks, scores of innocent people were killed along with terrorists, adding that soon after coming into power "we have taken up this problem seriously with the world community and established links with friendly countries to seek their support."
The President on this occasion referred to Friends of Pakistan, which helped us in making clear our point of view to the world. He said that the world community had now started realising our stance and the new administration in the US had close contacts with the present government in Pakistan.
The President said he was well aware of the tribal traditions and customs, as he was himself a tribesman. "Tribal people are peace-loving and hate terrorism and want to see their areas developed and prosper," he added. The Fata was an important part of the country, he said, adding when any part of a body was bleeding, the pain was felt in the entire body.
He said it was an historic fact that problems in Fata could not be resolved through foreign interference and the only option available was the traditional system enforced in the tribal agencies. He said that the US had appointed its special envoy for the region to settle the problems in the area with mutual consultation and understanding amongst the stakeholders.
"It will give us an opportunity to present our case in most effective manner, the President said, and added: "We will tell them fighting is no solution to the imbroglio and let us allow to handle it in our own way as we know better then them as to how best the issue can be tackled."
He reiterated that "we will emerge victorious in fighting out militancy with full might and making the country strong and stable among the comity of nations. We will not let the nation down in this regard," Zardari pledged. NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, in his brief address, briefed the President about the sacrifices rendered by the tribesmen for the cause of the country, and added they were true and loyal defenders of the country's frontiers.
He said they had always stood side by side with the government whenever the country was threatened by the aggressors. He said over 800 tribal elders, maliks and tribesmen had lost their lives in the present war against terror. He confessed that war against terror could not be won without their active support and co-operation, and sought their role in flushing out militants from the tribal regions.
Parliamentary leader of MNAs and Senators from Fata Haji Munir Aurakzai called for immediate end to the drone attacks in the tribal areas and tribal elders and Masharan should be allowed to work for the establishment of peace in their areas in accordance with the tribal traditions.
"This is the only option to face the present challenges," he argued. He said it was a matter of regret that the Fata situation was not taken as a national issue in the past, and added that he always took up the matter in the previous assembly for five years but of no use.
"It is a matter to be taken seriously before it was too late," he warned, and added the government writ in the Fata was today fragile and activities of the government officials were restricted to their offices. Malik Waris Khan Afridi, in his welcome address, also called for an early end to the attacks in the tribal belt, and demanded hefty package for the neglected tribal areas to remove their backwardness.
He told the President that this gathering in front of him comprised responsible people, who did not want any change in their independent status. He declared that tribesmen would not allow any foreigner to use their soil for subversive activities. He suggested mobilising the local Jirga system in overcoming the problem. National Assembly member from North Waziristan Dr Kamran Khan also addressed the Jirga, and urged the President to fulfill the dream of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto which she had dreamt for the progress and prosperity of the tribal areas.
Earlier, tribal elders from Kurram Agency, Aurakzai Agency, Mohamand Agency, Bajaur Agency, North and South Waziristan Agencies presented traditional tribal gifts to the President. The gifts included traditional gun, Kulla, turban, carpets etc. Federal Minister for SAFRON Najumddin Khan, Senators, MNAs from Fata, tribal elders, Masharan, Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor, IGP Malik Naveed, ACS Fata Habibullah Khan, and political agents of all the tribal agencies were present on the occasion.
