Army chief assures support to Naqeeb's family for justice

MAKEEN: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said Army shall support all the efforts to let Naqeeb Ullah Mehsud’s family get justice in their son’s murder case.

This he said while he met Naqeeb’s father at Makeen in South Waziristan Agency (SWA). The Army chief condoled over the death of the tribal youth and offered Fatiha for the departed soul.

The commander Peshawar corps and inspector general frontier corps (south) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also present during the visit.

27-year-old Naqeebullah Mehsud was killed in a staged encounter led by former senior superintendent police Rao Anwar in Karachi on January 13.

The murder triggered widespread outrage on social media when the family of aspiring fashion model rejected claims that Mehsud was a member of a terrorist outfit and had any criminal record.

Read More: Absconding Rao Anwar arrested from SC in Naqeebullah murder case

COAS inaugurates two mega projects in Waziristan

The COAS also inaugurated two mega socio-economic development projects in SWA.

The projects include an agriculture park at Wana and a market at Makeen. Both these facilities are part of socio-economic uplift program for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Projects have been executed by Pakistan Army Engineers in collaboration with the government, said a press releaise issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

COAS inaugurated mega socio-eco development projects in SWA. “Mainstreaming of FATA to the popular aspirations of local tribes is essential for its development and enduring stability”, COAS. pic.twitter.com/WYUqHCZS5J

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 5, 2018

The agriculture park at Wana comprises multiple components including state of the art Pine Nut Processing Plan, 1000 ton capacity cold storage facility, ware houses, godowns and 128 shops. ‘Makeen Market Complex’ has 728 shops, allied facilities and a children park, read the release.

Speaking to the local tribal elders, General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that having lived through very difficult times during terrorism/ kinetic operations against terrorists, we now were in the phase of stability and development.

He urged them not to allow anyone to jeopardise the peace attained at a very heavy cost in blood and national exchequer.

The COAS said, “Mainstreaming of FATA to the popular aspirations of local tribes at the earliest is essential for its development and enduring stability.”

He acknowledged tribal brethren for their full support to Army and their resolve to maintain and strengthen the gains.

Tribal elders thanked Pakistan Army for restoring peace/ development works and assured that tribes stand firmly with Pakistan Army for journey towards enduring peace.