'People of Attock will extend full cooperation to the internally displaced persons in these testing times:' District Nazim Khan — AP photo.

ATTOCK District Nazim Tahir Sadiq Khan announced on Friday that under a local government-supported programme, every village and locality would 'adopt' up to three families displaced by the fighting in Swat and other districts of the Malakand Division.

'People of Attock will extend full cooperation to the internally displaced persons in these testing times,' Mr Khan said in a meeting with the refugees at the District Council Hall.

However, the meeting was marred by an argument between the nazim and the executive district officer (community).

The atmosphere became tense when EDO Ashraf Awan climbed on to the rostrum to defend the Punjab government led by the PML-N after the nazim criticised it for not facilitating the displaced persons.

Soon after Mr Khan, who is affiliated with the PML-N's rival party - Pakistan Muslim League, finished his speech, Mr Awan took the podium and said it was not a time for political bickering or point scoring on the IDPs issue. He stressed collective efforts to handle the serious situation.

The remarks made the PML activists and the nazim's supporters to start shouting slogans against the unanticipated defence of the Punjab government.

Equally surprised by the EDO's move, Mr Khan asked the official to give an overview of the measures so far taken by the local administration and the Punjab government to help more than 9,000 people who arrived in the district.

On this, Mr Awan failed to come up with any convincing reply.

Earlier, the district nazim alleged that the Punjab government was doing nothing for the IDPs and was just paying lip service to the issue.

However, he lauded the Comsats university for registering about 9,000 refugees and setting up a relief camp for provision of food and other relief items with the help of volunteers.

On the occasion, Syed Ameer Zaman, a representative of the displaced persons, said they were facing a lot of hardships and problems since their dislocation in the wake of the military operation against the militants.

'But we give preference to the country and support elimination of extremists and terrorists which is necessary to maintain peace in the entire country,' Mr Zaman added.