[Dawn] Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday said no one would be allowed to use Pakhtun land for terrorist activities and that `international game` for interference in the country`s affairs would be thwarted.
Addressing a public meeting here, the chief minister said acts of terrorism were carried out in Pakistain to defame Islam and ruin the already fragile local economy.
He said schools, mosques and religious seminaries were not safe due to bad turban activities but his government would continue fighting terrorism until it was eliminated to bring the province on a par with developed provinces.
Mr Hoti renewed the government`s conditional peace offer to bad turbans, saying the latter would have to lay down arms and accept the government`s writ for talks with it.
"We are followers of Bacha Khan, who always preached non-violence and peace but it shouldn`t be considered our weakness," he said.
The chief minister announced the Rs2.20 billion development projects, including construction of roads, laying of water lines, improvement of sanitation system and establishment of a media colony, for Nowshera district.
He claimed his government had done unprecedented development work in the province and that ANP would contest next elections on the basis of its performance in power.
Mr Hoti listed his government`s educational initiatives and said 100 to 200 new schools would be established under the Rukhana Pakhtunkhwa schemes, while thousands of scholarships would be awarded to brilliant students.
In his address, provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain asked faceless myrmidons to leave the province to prevent death, adds APP.
He said Pakhtun land was dear to ANP leaders and workers, who rendered lives for its protection and would continue doing so. He warned people against sheltering terrorists.
Mr Iftikhar said the government wouldn`t leave people at the mercy of faceless myrmidons and would ensure by all means protection of their life and property.
He regretted that the Taliban justified violence in light of frequent drone attacks by the US and said.
"What a pity that they (Taliban) are holding negotiations with drone attackers while targeting innocent and poor people," he said.
The minister said his government was against drone attacks and terrorism alike and that both were intolerable.
He said the government repeatedly asked the US to share with it drone technology for fighting terrorism. He regretted that drone attacks led to increase in acts of terrorism in the country.
Mr Iftikhar said ANP followed Bacha Khan and that his ideology and philosophy would remain alive forever.
He welcomed the announcement of Rs2.5 billion development package for Nowshera district and establishment of cadet colleges in Nowshera and Mardan and said the initiatives would usher in a new era of development in the region.
The minister said ANP would win the next elections, too, on the basis of its performance over the last four years. He said despite facing terrorism, his government had completed record development schemes in the province.
ANP provincial chief Senator Afrasiab Khattak, provincial minister Aqil Shah, MNAs Masaud Abbas Khan Khattak and Jamila Gailani, and others were also present on the occasion.