NWFP govt to create more jobs to prevent youths from joining Taliban

Peshawar, Oct 13 (ANI): The NWFP government is planning to increase economic activity through offering more government jobs in the province in a bid to curb the wave of Talibanisation, the ruling party the ANP (Awami National Party) has said.

In a statement, ANP working committee member Gul Mina Bilal said that the Taliban were "misguiding unemployed youths, who were joining their ranks".

However, the provision of employment opportunities would help end Talibanisation in the province, she said and added that it was the ANP government that adopted a clear policy to purge the province of militancy.

Gul said that the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and other parties did not speak against those who were destroying the peace of the province.

She blamed the previous Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government for Talibanisation, saying "had the JI stopped the Taliban activities in various areas, the situation would have been different".

The ANP leader further said that the provincial government had made all preparations for the establishment of free trade zones in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Haripur and the Mohmand Agency. (ANI)