PESHAWAR: All Fata Political Parties` Alliance has demanded an immediate end to the drone attacks, military operations and `violation of human rights` in the tribal region. It also demanded approval of Rs200 billion for rehabilitation of the displaced persons in Fata.

The demand was raised at a jirga of the representatives of all the parties in the alliance at Nishtar Hall here on Saturday.

The jirga was held with Awami National Party leader and known lawyer Abdul Lateef Afridi in the chair.

Prominent among the speakers were Nisar Khan of ANP, Mohmand Agency, Bakht Zada of PTI, Bajuar Agency, Rehmat Salam Khattak of PML-N, Akhunzada Chatan of PPP, Asad Afridi of QWP, Zarnoor Afridi of Jamaat-i-Islami, Ajmal Wazir of PML-Q and Maulana Abdur Rasheed of JUI-F.

The jirga issued a joint declaration, demanding im-mediate end to drone strikes and rehabilitation of the IDPs.

They also asked the government to approve a reasonable financial package for the welfare of the affected people.

The participants said development work in Fata had come to a halt, unemployment was at its peak and the residents were in dire need of basic facilities like water, medical care, education and needed support in agriculture.

The speakers said that about 600 educational institutions had been destroyed or damaged in the violence and the new generation was unable to get education in the prevailing situation.

They stressed the need to give tribesmen representation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly so they could raise voice for their rights in a befitting manner.

The tribesmen said that innocent people were arrested under Frontier Crimes Regulation and kept behind bars for indefinite period and they were not given the opportunity to move courts or raise voice against the injustices.

They demanded extension of regular law to Fata and taking decisions in consultation with the relevant tribal people to remove unrest among them.