PESHAWAR, Sept 4: The Fata chapter of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) has expressed concern over longevity of military operation in Bara and asked army to make public the goals it has achieved in the tribal region.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, PTI Fata leader Javed Afridi said that Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani should at least disclose to the nation the achievements or failures of the operation.

Flanked by Ali Rahman Afridi, Jamal Khan Afridi, Haji Khan Afridi, Muzammil Afridi and Arif Afridi, he said that situation in Swat was more serious as compared to that of Khyber Agency but operation in the district was completed within three months. But in Khyber Agency the operation took more than three years and it was yet to be completed, he added.

Mr Afridi said that tribal people did not know as to what mistake they had committed for which they were forced to leave their houses and villages.

The tribal people, he said, had always rendered sacrifices for protection of the country’s borders and it was duty of government to do justice with them.

“According to Article-1 of the Constitution of Pakistan, tribal people have equal rights like those living in the settled parts of the country.

But, situation in Fata is different as lives, honour and properties of tribal people are not secure,” he said.

Mr Afridi claimed that no high value target was hit in the operation and only innocent people were affected. “Yesterday, a small girl fell prey to a bullet in her mother lap,” he said.

The PTI leader said that tribal people were being made scapegoats in the war of others. He said that thousands of poor people were compelled to live as internally displaced persons in camps where they were insulted and even killed when they tried to get food for their children.

“The rulers have no sympathies with the poor people, who are leading a miserable life in the camps without getting sufficient food, water and shelter,” Mr Afridi said. He added that people were passing through the worst phase of history.He said that a think-tank should be formed under the supervision of chief of army staff to work in consultation with tribal people for restoration of peace in Fata. — Bureau Report