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.:Coming down hard on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the provincial government was trying to pass its failure to others, including the army.
He said there was a complete absence of civilian law enforcement agencies and public service institutions in Tirah, adding that the area lacked police stations, schools and hospitals.
The minister said it had been agreed between the provincial government and the local jirga that hospitals, police stations and girls’ schools would be established in Tirah Valley.
Asif said the jirga in Tirah held meetings on December 11, 21 and 31 last year on the matter. “This jirga was constituted many years ago and all 24 of its members are on board. Now, in the presence of the jirga and the notification issued by the KP government, where does the military come into this?” he questioned.
He said hemp was being cultivated over more than 12,000 acres in Tirah, adding that each acre generated profits ranging from Rs3 million to Rs3.5 million.
He said hemp had multiple uses, including in medicines, construction material and bricks.
The minister said, “Hemp is cultivated there and the proceeds either go to politically connected individuals or the TTP. We have initiated measures to stop this so that local people benefit and schools and hospitals can be built.”
He said the federal government was ready to provide full assistance to the provincial government for the welfare and development of the people.
Replying to a question, the minister said the intensity of terrorism had increased in recent years following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. He said many armed forces personnel had been martyred, while many terrorists had also been eliminated.
He said that Pakistan had made five sincere attempts, but the Taliban government was not willing to give guarantees to stop the infiltration of terrorists into Pakistan.