PARACHINAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has formed a one-member commission to probe delay in enforcement of Murree agreement that was signed by various tribes and sects of Kurram Agency to ensure sustainable peace in the area.

The commission comprising Kohat Commissioner Jamalud Din Shah will present its report to the governor within 15 days. The decision to form the commission was taken after the governor attended a briefing on law and order situation in Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency, on Tuesday.

The commission will look into the reasons that are delaying return of the people, who were either displaced owing to sectarian conflict or militancy, to their areas. It will also evaluate financial cost of the rehabilitation of the affected people.

Besides ascertaining reasons of widespread violence in the area, the commission will suggest steps to prevent such incidents in future. The Murree agreement was signed in 2008 by representatives of different sectarian groups and tribal elders of the area.

The main features of the six-point agreement were reopening of Thall-Parachinar Road, return of internally displaced persons and their immediate rehabilitation in their native areas.

The sectarian clashes in the area in November 2007 had left around 2,000 people dead and more than 60 villages destroyed. The main road was closed for almost four years after the clashes. The agreement was partially implemented in 2012 and main road was opened to traffic.

During the briefing, the governor was informed that total 23,338 families were displaced from upper and lower sub-divisions of Kurram Agency because of sectarian violence. Only 2,435 of those families have retuned to their native areas. In addition, 34,110 families were displaced from central sub-division of Kurram owing to militancy and subsequent military operations in the area. Officials said that only 1,834 of those families were still displaced but arrangements were underway for their repatriation.

The governor directed the line departments to utilise the existing funds, allocated in the current Annual Development Programme for the area, till June 30. Any delay in that regard would not be tolerated, he said.

Earlier, addressing a jirga the governor said that solid steps would be taken to computerise the land revenue record of the agency to prevent eruption of property disputes among people.

Mr Khan said that it was possible to develop Kurram Agency as model for other administrative units of Fata as far as restoration of peace and socio-economic development were concerned.

The governor said that the potential of mineral development, hydel power generation, promotion of agriculture alongside opening the area to promotion of trade and business activities take lead in reconstruction priorities of the government.

He said that he would ensure that the available resources were fully exploited in the best interest of the people.

Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Fata Additional Chief Arbab Mohammad Arif, Kohat Commissioner Jamalud Din Shah and Kurram Political Agent Riaz Khan Mehsud were also present on the occasion.

“I am actively engaged in preparation of a rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for the entire Fata that would be finalised and implemented in consultation with the people. I myself will ensure its proper monitoring and implementation by visiting all the tribal agencies,” the governor said. Mr Khan said that government honoured the customs and traditions of tribal people. “I am also conscious of the fact that not only the entire Fata, but each and every tribal agency also bears a varying nature of dynamics and we have to cope with the situation by ensuring judicious, fair and honest role of the government functionaries and the institutions in overcoming the confronting difficulties,” he said.

The governor paid rich tributes to the sacrifices rendered by soldiers and officers of army for restoration of peace in Fata.