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Pakistan

IDPs’ repatriation second phase to start from 30th

F.P.Report WANA: The second phase of the repatriation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of South Waziristan will start from April 30. In this connection a joint jirga (meeting) of Pakistan Army, Political Administration and Mahsood tribe of Sarokai, area of the South Waziristan was held at the Political Compound in Tank. Brigadier Wajid of 104 Brigade and Brigadier Shahid Mehmood Kiyani of the 55 Brigade, Political Agent, South Waziristan, Atif-ur-Rehman, Assistant Political Agent, Hamidullah Khan and officers of Pakistan army and hundreds of tribal elders from Sarokai Division attended. The purpose of the jirga was to discuss the launching of the second phase of the repatriation of displaced persons, which will start from April 30. Addressing the tribal jirga, Brigadier Wajid of the 104 Brigade said that after successful operation Raah-i-Nijat in South Waziristan and establishment of durable peace development work has been accelerated in the area and education has been given priority. He said that the education and health centres have been reopened and electricity restored in the areas where IDPs have been repatriated. He said that 3000 acres land has been made cultivable and crop was also cultivated on it, which would be harvested within next few weeks. He said that various steps have been initiated for development of agriculture and to help tribesmen to stand on their own feet, saying market and shops have constructed at Jugmali. One mosque has also been constructed and 70 per cent work on the black topping of the Tank-Makeen Road and 60 to 70 per cent work on the important Tank-Wana highway have been completed. An electrification project has also been started with a hefty amount of Rs.700 million to electrify houses and villages. In his address to the jirga, Political Agent, South Waziristan, Atif-ur-Rehman said that Pakistan Army and political administration are utilizing all available resources for the repatriation of IDPs to their houses and provision of all facilities to them. Assistant Political Agent (APA), Sub-Division Sarokai, Hamidullah Khan said that for the starting of the second phase of the repatriation, the registration of IDPs will be carried out from April 22 to April 27. He said that the second phase of the repatriation will start from April 30. He said that the repatriating family will be paid an amount of Rs.25, 000 in cash, tent, six month ration per family along with other goods. Speaking on the occasion, Malik Janan Mahsood and other elders said that they are first Pakistani and then Waziristani. "South Waziristan is our ancestral area and will return there to reconstruct our houses and areas," said the tribal elders. They pledged playing active role in the restoration of peace and development activities in collaboration with Pakistan Army and political administration. In case of any foreign adventurism in Pakistan, the tribesmen will fight along Pakistan Army.

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