News
Sunday, September 15, 2013
KP announces military pullout from Malakand* CM says process of withdrawing troops from Shangla and Buner districts will start next month
* In second phase, troops will be pulled out from Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir
NOWSHERA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday approved withdrawal of army from Malakand Division, as the process of pulling out troops from Shangla and Buner districts would start next month.
In the second phase, troops would be pulled out from Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir districts and other parts of Malakand Division, the chief minister told reporters in his home town of Nowshera.
Malakand Division consists of seven districts.
“The Pakistan Army, police and FC have rendered numerous sacrifices in war against terror in Malakand Division and the entire nation is proud of their valour, which ultimately led to the establishment of peace in the region,” Khattak added.
He said resolution of problems through talks was an essential part of the PTI’s manifesto. “We have to protect and respect our own interest instead of looking after the rights of other countries in the region,” the chief minister said.
PTI chief Imran Khan has fully supported the All Parties Conference (APC) called by the federal government, he said and added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would also assist and cooperate with the federation in this regard.
Khattak said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would also call an APC in order to take all the parties into confidence regarding proposed talks with militants for the maintenance of peace in the country.
He said that the PTI-led government in KP had fulfilled one of its promises and established the government’s writ.
The Pakistan Army had been asked by the then government in 2007 to control the increasing activities of the Taliban in Malakand Division after they had challenged the government’s writ in the area.
Separately, Khattak paid a surprise visit to Nasirullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital on Kohat Road and ordered suspension of Medical Superintendent Dr Tariq for his poor performance and negligence in duty.
The chief minister inspected medical ward, x-ray laboratory, operation theatre and other hospital departments.
Taking serious notice of unhygienic conditions at the hospital, the chief minister ordered suspension of the MS and said that a hospital with such a poor condition of cleanliness could not do anything good for the patients.
On the absence of some staff members, especially the sanitation staff from duty, the chief minister asked the administration to show him attendance registers and other records of the hospital staff, but the administration failed to show any proper record of the hospital staff on duty. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk