Bara Bazaar, roads would soon be opened: Shahab Ali Shah

KHYBER AGENCY: The Khyber Agency political agent has said that after the complete restoration of peace they would be able to reopen educational institutions, health facilities and other government-run offices in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

All this said by PA Shahab Ali Shah while speaking to a delegation of Bara edlers met him Monday in Khyber House Peshawar. The delegation, led by National Assembly Member Nasir Khan and Senator Haji Khan Afridi, told PA Khyber that they would be with the government to maintain security in the area.

Tribal elders Abdul Khanan, Haji Duran Gul,Malik Zahir Shah,Shah Faisal and Bara business community president Maqbali Aridi told PA Khyhber  that military operation was not the final solution of conflict going on in Bara tehsil.  

They said five years long conflicts have badly suffered the local residents and they lost their properties worth billion of rupees. Jamat-e-Islami leader Shah Faisal said that like other Pakistani they were also patriotic citizens and would never allow anti-social elements on their soil.  Maqbali said 44,000 people were concerned with the Bara business centres who had lost their livelihood due to militancy. He said Bara residents would welcome all those steps taken for the restoration of peace.

MNA Nasir Khan Afridi said they had a series of dialogues with the administration and security forces for halting military actions, reopening of roads and repatriation of displaced people to Bara.MNA said Bara-Shah Kas road would be reopened for the general public on the 18th of this month. Adding forces will vacate maximum Bara areas and Khasadar and Levies forces would take control. Till the end of March, MNA said, that Bara bazaar would be completely reopened while prisoners with minor cases would be released.

Senator from Bara, Haji Khan thanked commandant Khyber Rifles(KR) and PA Khyber for such steps taken for the displaced people of Bara. Haji Khan demanded of the PA Khyber that 72 sacked Khasadar forces personnel who had been terminated from their jobs in 2009 should be reinstate. He also requested the official to recruit the relatives of the retired Khasadar officials.

PA Shahab Ali Shah heard the suggestions and demanded and assured the tribal elders.He said they would soon take steps for sending back the Bara displaced people and would reopen Bara bazaar and all the closed roads in Bara tehsil. The official said that it was not the lone duty of the government but local people should also cooperate and coordinate with the security forces and political administration to maintain peace in the area.