LAKKI MARWAT, Jan 22: Durable peace would be restored in the troubled tribal regions soon as war against terrorism had entered its final stage, said Senator Afrasiab Khattak, the provincial president of Awami National Party.

Addressing a public meeting at Tajazai here on Saturday, he said that militants had been flushed out from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and they would be defeated in the tribal areas by the year-end.

Scores of office-bearers of Pakistan People's Party, People's Yourth Organisation and People's Labour Organisation announced joining ANP on this occasion.

Mr Khattak said that war against terror was in the final stage and lasting peace would soon be restored in the troubled tribal regions. He said that parts of province had been cleared of militants. They were on the run in tribal areas where security forces destroyed their hideouts and sanctuaries, he added.

“Lasting peace is not far from our soil as Pakhtuns have rendered great sacrifices for it,” he said, adding the government would succeed to eliminate militancy and root out terrorism from the tribal areas as well by the end of the year.

Underling the need for launching 'jihad' against militancy, he said that Pakhtuns would soon bring a revolution of peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

He highlighted the importance of non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan and said that the entire world besides adhering to the philosophy of their late leader was working hard to maintain peace on the earth.

Mr Khattak said that the residents of the province would soon get the fruit of provincial autonomy. “The devolution of powers to the province will help the government to provide people with better healthcare and education facilities and create jobs,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain called upon the women to come forward and play their role in rooting out the menace of terrorism from the society.

He said that Bacha Khan's non-violence philosophy was based on the principles of tolerance, patience, selflessness, peace and love for all.

He said that people involved in blowing up schools and hospitals, destroying mosques and imambargahs and killing innocent citizens were enemies of humanity.

He said that the ANP-led government would fight against terrorists and militants till the last drop of blood in their bodies to bring peace and tranquillity to the soil of Pakhtuns.

Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz, MPA Yasmeen Zia, ANP district president Advocate Sadruddin and general secretary Fazal Rahim Khan also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the ANP leaders met Hanif Shah, a prominent educationist, and expressed deep grief over the death of his younger brother Altaf Shah. They offered Fateha for the deceased and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.