PM arrives in Bannu to visit IDPs camps

BANNU: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived here to visit the camp of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Geo News reported.

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif welcomed the prime minister on his arrival.

Chief Minister KPK, Pervez Khattak, federal ministers and other government officials are accompanying the PM.

Sources said that the premier would be briefed over problems faced by the IDPs and the arrangements made for their relief.

Later, Nawaz Sharif is expected to meet the IDPs in a bid to get first hand report about the arrangements and difficulties faced by them.

Nearly half a million people have fled a military operation Zarb-e-Azb against Taliban strongholds in North Waziristan.

Tens of thousands of families have fled to the town of Bannu, close to North Waziristan, while hundreds more have moved further afield to Lakki Marwat, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan towns, since the offensive began in mid-June.

Earlier, PM Nawaz had invited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan to undertake a joint visit with him to the camps established for the IDPs, but Imran responded that he has already visited the camp on June 22. The PTI chief rejected the offer, saying that his party has planned a rally in Bahawalpur today.