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Published 01 Apr, 2009 12:00am

MINGORA: Special package sought for Swat

MINGORA, March 31 The Qami Amn Jirga has asked the government to declare Swat calamity-hit area, announce special package for affected areas and implement Nizam-i-Adl Regulation.

Addressing a press conference in Kanju, the jirga chief Syed Inamur Rehman threatened to launch a movement against the government if their demands were not met.

“The president should sign the draft of Nizam-i-Adl Regulation forthwith to fulfil the lasting demand of the people of the area,” Mr Rehman said.

Presenting the six other demands of the jirga, he said that government should release all the persons arrested during the operation; abolish all the checkposts; withdraw security forces from public and private buildings; reconstruct schools, offices and houses; compensate families of killed and injured during the operation; protect journalists and compensate family members of slain journalists.

He regretted that President Asif Ali Zardari did not bother to mention Swat on the floor of the National Assembly during his speech to the joint session of parliament.

He asked the federal and provincial governments to stop step-motherly treatment with Swat and announce special incentive package for the people of the district by declaring it calamity-hit area and wave off agriculture loans, utility bills and irrigation fees.

He said the military operation was a blunder and government was responsible for the destruction in Swat. The jirga chief said that people of Swat had given sacrifices for enforcement of Sharia law.

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