On the evening of January 19, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants abducted four officials of the Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), who were working on an oil and gas exploration project. The group demanded ransom money of Rs 5 million to release the abducted officials. The security forces tried to recover the officials through the efforts of a local Jirga; however, these efforts remained unsuccessful.
Consequently, the security forces, with the help of local people, adopted an effective strategy and recovered the four kidnapped officials and killed TTP commander Noor Salam and Hameed Ullah, who were involved in the abduction.
The local people, even the close relatives of the terrorists, refused to bury the dead bodies expressing complete indifference to them, which is a clear expression of the people’s hatred against the enemies of peace.
TTP is against development of tribal areas
It should be remembered that this oil and gas discovery project in North Waziristan will start a new chapter of prosperity and development in the region as it is the largest gas deposit in Pakistan. So far, more than one billion rupees have been invested in the development of local tribes and people working on this project. More than 2000 local people have been provided employment and are earning a livelihood.
In the near future, projects worth billions of rupees in the area will contribute to the development and prosperity of the local people through health, education, transportation, agriculture, clean water supply, educational scholarships, and many public welfare projects.
Pakistani people in general and tribal people, in particular, are right to ask TTP some questions:
- Why is TTP against every plan for the welfare of tribal people?
- Why does TTP want no investment and development in the tribal areas rich in mineral resources?
- Why is TTP dissociating with its two commanders, Noor Salam and Hameed Ullah?
- Does the TTP fear that by revealing its connection with the terrorists, the TTP’s kidnapping for ransom and extortion will be exposed to the public?
Remember the TTP people who kept demanding the release of the abducted officials in exchange for ransom to the local Jirga. The local people of Waziristan better know and are well aware of these people.
Now the people’s voice will expose the TTP that they are priests of money and criminals fighting and dying for money in the name of Jihad. People hate these outsiders because they are enemies of peace and development.
