“Militants eliminated with all its color and shapes” Mamnoon

LANDIKOTAL(FATA):   President Mamnoon Hussain has said that militancy has been rooted out with all its color and shapes from Khyber agency after they launched military offences against the anti-state elements in the region.

All this he said while addressing a gathering of local elders and political parties’ leaders in Landikotal Jirga hall on Thursday. He said that they have sent back displaced people to their homes in Bara subdivision and started the rehabilitation of the destroyed infrastructure including of the homes and other government installations in Bara.

President Mamnoon Hussain was accompanied by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor  Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan and crops commander Peshawar Hidayat-ur-Rehman. They paid a day-long visit to Khyber Agency  where they formally inaugurated the Peshawar-Torkham highway which costed 70 million US dollars.

Addressing a gathering of tribal elders and political parties’ leaders in Landikotal Jirga hall president Mamnoon Hussain said that peace has been restored after they launched Khyber-I and II military operation in Khyber Agency.  He said all kinds of militants and social evils  have been eliminated from Khyber Agency and their hideouts have been destroyed.  President Mamnoon said rehabilitation process of the displaced people had already kicked off in all militancy affected Fata areas including Bara subdivision of Khyber Agency.

Mamnoon Hussain praised the role of the local people and the security forces that they have rendered sacrifices and defended the motherland from internal and external hostilities.  

President of Pakistan said that Peshawar-Torkham highway was the key rout which would enhance trade and business activities between Pakistan and central Asian countries. He said the road will also provide jobs to the thousands of tribesmen which would help promote local business in the region.  

President Mamnoon directed the federal government to address the core issues of Fata people on the priority basis. He urged the local people that strengthen unity more against anti-social elements to help start development projects in the region.

Earlier, Tribal elder and former federal minister Malik Waris Khan Afridi welcomed the president of Pakistan. He on the behalf of the Fata people thanked President Mamnoon Hussain said that after two decades a Pakistan’s president visited to Landikotal. Malik Waris said that tribal people like other Pakistani citizens are loyal to their country. He said suffered a lot while standing against militancy side by side with the government. He requested the honorable president of Pakistan that tribal people want a positive change in their life. He demanded of the president to announce sports stadium, a degree college in Mulagori, Industrial zone and gas supply line to Khyber Agency.

Daily life in was badly affected during the president of Pakistan’s visit to Khyber Agency as curfew was imposed at various places and people was asked to restrict their mobility. Thousands of vehicles including load trucks bound to Afghanistan were seen parked on the road sides. Passengers including patient, children and elderly persons had to wait a long hot day across the border as they were not allowed to travel from and to Torkham during the VVIP visit to Landikotal.

Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan also addressed the tribal elders said that he was in close contact with the political party leaders and other Mashrans. He said that

The shopkeepers and business offices in Landikotal bazaar were asked to close down their shops and local transport and taxi cabs were seen disappeared from the road.

It may be added here that Khyber Agency administration had restricted the local media men during the visit of the president Mamnoon Hussain visit to Landikotal.

Critics however termed this visit a lollypop for the Landikotal resident said that President Mamnoon Hussain not announced a single mega project so that hundreds of educated youth could have jobs in it. They said that Peshawar-Torkham road had already been inaugurated by the former president Asif Ali Zardar on his visit to governor house Peshawar in 2013. It was said that President Mamnoon Hussain should have to announce special package to those who lost near and dears in militancy and should talk about the FCR and its negative impacts on the people.