| NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour claimed on Wednesday that following the peace deal between the provincial government and Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), peace was restored in 70 per cent areas of Swat valley. "The NWFP government's peace deal with Sufi Mohammad is going successful as peace has been restored in about 70 per cent areas of the volatile Swat district," Bilour, who is also Awami National Party (ANP)'s parliamentary leader in NWFP Assembly, told media persons at a launch hosted by ANP-backed newly elected District Nazim Umer Khan in the honour of district council members. Bilour, however, strongly criticised reports of private news channels regarding scraping of the Swat peace deal after suspected Taliban ambushed a security forces vehicle on Tuesday resulting in killing of two security forces personnel in Matta tehsil of Swat and termed such reports as baseless. He claimed that the situation in Swat had improved significantly after the peace deal. He said all schools were reopened and business activities restarted in the district. Coming hard on the media, the ANP senior minister said that media should play a positive role in maintaining peace in the valley rather than to mislead public through its "baseless" reports. The ANP leader went on to say that the provincial government will not back out of its peace deal with TNSM, which is inches from full success. He vowed that the provincial government will ensure complete peace in Swat district at all costs. |