WANA (South Waziristan), Dec 23: NWFP’s Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Tuesday announced that a general amnesty would be granted to all foreign elements hiding in the agency area as well as those local tribesmen who had provided sanctuary to them, if they laid down their weapons and gave themselves up to the political administration.

“Such elements who voluntarily surrender and lay down their arms will be granted general amnesty by the federal government and they would not be handed over to their respective governments,” the governor announced at a grand tribal jirga of Mahsud and Wazir tribesmen here.

Mr Shah said that the government would not allow any person or group to use Pakistan’s soil to mount an attack against any other neighbouring country. The foreigners who, he said, had taken shelter in the tribal areas and their tribal protectors must avail the offer and give in to the government, otherwise strict action would be taken against them, he warned.

Earlier, the governor, who is on a three-day visit to the South Waziristan Agency, also visited a religious seminary established by ex-MNA Maulana Noor Mohammad in the Mughalkhel village near Wana, where the students are imparted contemporary and scientific education along with the religious curricula.

Maulana Noor Mohammad briefed the governor about the working and facilities being provided to the students at the madressah.

The governor was informed that 700 boys and 430 girls studied in the institution, whereas 100 girls had also been provided hostel facilities.

The governor inspected the computer, physics and chemistry laboratories and took keen interest in the computer literacy arrangements.

Secretary to governor Sahibzada Saeed Ahmed, secretary Fata security Brig (retd) Mahmood Shah and Political Agent Mohammad Azam Khan also accompanied the governor on this occasion.