ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday assured the father of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old youth allegedly murdered in a fake encounter by Sindh police in Karachi, of complete support in seeking justice, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
General Bajwa, who was in the South Waziristan Agency (SWA) to inaugurate two mega projects, condoled with the family and offered prayers for the departed soul. He said that army will support all efforts to obtain justice for the slain youth, according to the ISPR.
Speaking to local tribal elders during his visit, General Bajwa said that the country had now entered the phase of stability and development after facing difficult times during terrorism and subsequent operations against terrorists. He urged the tribal elders to not allow anyone to jeopardize the peace attained at a very heavy cost in the shape of loss of blood and money.
The army chief said that the earliest mainstreaming of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is essential for its development and enduring stability. He acknowledged the support offered by the tribal people to the army and their resolve to maintain and strengthen the gains made during the anti-terror fight.
The tribal elders thanked Pakistan Army for restoring peace and initiating development projects in the area and assured that tribes stood firmly with the army in journey towards enduring peace.
Earlier, development projects including an agriculture park in Wana and a market at Makeen were inaugurated by General Bajwa as part of programme for socio-economic uplift of FATA. The projects were executed by engineers of the Pakistan Army in collaboration with the government, the statement said.
Wana’s Agriculture Park comprises multiple components including a state-of-the-art pine-nut processing plant, a cold storage facility boasting a 1000-ton capacity, warehouses and 128 shops. The Makeen Market Complex has 728 shops, allied facilities and a park for children.
Published in Daily Times, April 6th 2018.
