Peoples’ support must to curb terrorism; Senate Body

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production on Friday underlined the need for winning the hearts and minds of the people for eradicating terrorism, that is more important than relying on the military action in FATA and parts of the NWFP.
The Committee spent a busy day in Peshawar and held separate meetings with Governor NWFP Awais Ahmad Ghani, Inspector General Frontier Corps Major General Tariq Khan and representatives of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said a press release issued here.
Members of the Committee were of the view that socio-economic development of FATA is of utmost importance as it would help remove the grievances of the people belonging to this area.
They suggested that writ of the Government needs to be established in the troubled areas and forces engaged were required to be given more funds and necessary equipments to restore peace in the region.
The Committee observed that a holistic approach was required to be adopted to address the menace by taking political, economic and administrative measures.
The Committee in its meeting with the representatives of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) observed that business activity had halted in the tribal areas as well as in the province and urged the Government to facilitate the business community and provide protection to the local businessmen and industrialists. Shortage of wheat, gas and long duration of load shedding and discriminatory electricity tariff were some of the complaints raised by the office bearers of SCCI.
The Committee called on the Governor NWFP Awais Ahmad Ghani and apprised the Governor of the purpose of the visit.
Both the Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Nisar A. Memon and Governor NWFP, agreed that peace and stability needs to be restored in the FATA region and the forces be provided all out support to overcome the menace of terrorism.
The Governor informed that considerable improvement had been made and a policy to ensure lasting peace in the region was being pursued.
The Committee assured all out support to the Governor in restoring normalcy and improving the socio-economic life of the FATA region.
Additional Chief Secretary FATA Habibullah Khan and IG Frontier Corps, Major General Tariq Khan briefed the Committee on the security situation in FATA.
It was Informed that a large area of Bajaur and Mehmand Agencies has been cleared from militants and the writ of the Government has been restored.
The meeting was also attended by Senators Naeem Hussain Chattha, Syed Dilawar Abbas, Mrs. Rukhsana Zuberi and Ms. Saadia Abbasi.-APP