Devils take possession of an empty house

The military has done its part; it has restored writ of the State by clearing the tribal areas of the menace of terrorism. That the civilian side should do its part by creating conditions conducive enough for the displaced persons to return and restart their life is something that is not much in sight. Rightly then the delay in release of funds required for timely repatriation and rehabilitation of displaced persons dominated the KP Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar on Tuesday - though no one in the meeting asked how come funds for mega projects are made available instantly but never for the people in tribal areas. Maybe, the civilian side doesn't share the pain and plight the tribesmen have undergone; but that's not the case with soldiers and their commanders who admire the courage and fortitude of the tribal people who suffered so much but did not disrupt life in the Capital. According to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, "With unflinching resolve and courage, our proud tribesmen of Fata and people of KP stood up to atrocities of terrorists, pushed them back and marginalised them in society". But the terrorists would remain marginalised only when the tribesmen would be back in their homes; otherwise, 'devils take possession of an empty house'.
Winning the war against battle-hardened terrorists was no joke; it was one of the military history's toughest operations any force undertook and won, and hence its recognition by the international community. But, in the words of the Army Chief, the State has now entered the "most difficult phase of military operation which caused massive displacement in north-west tribal areas". The task ahead is to rebuild war-damaged areas, ensure resettlement of the displaced persons and put on ground an administrative system. According to a newspaper report, the military leadership 'laid down its goals in terms of sustainable peace in Fata which included timely and dignified return' of displaced persons with provision of housing subsidy, improved and better infrastructure, socio-economic revival and timely rehabilitation and reconstruction in the tribal region. But those goals are still the far pavilions for the tribesmen - because the required funding is not available, as much for reasons of bureaucratic lethargy as for an out-of-sight-out-of-mind political mindset.
Unlike the 'captive Pakistanis' who became citizens of the independent state just because they lived in places which became Pakistan the people of tribal areas joined the new country on their own volition. They came to the Quaid and said they wanted to join the new Muslim state. The Quaid warmly welcomed these 'Muslim brothers from across the border'. But nearly seven decades on they have yet to be treated as equal citizens of Pakistan. The administrative system they live - or being forced to live - is grossly outdated and is in a dire need of reformation. Governed from Islamabad by an unelected governor, it smacks of colonialism. But the so-called "reforms for Fata" have yet to climb down from the drawing board. A lack of progress on the Fata reforms was also discussed at the meeting of the Apex Committee. The military leadership wants a speedy legislation of Fata reforms 'as per aspirations of the people of tribal areas'. Since it is a political process it is to be initiated by the political leadership, but the process has not yet even begun. Given the historical cusp the residents of tribal areas have arrived in the wake of successful military operation against terrorists and extremists the need for legal reforms for the region doesn't brook any delay. Ideally, the tribal areas comprising all seven agencies and some FR areas should be legislated as a province with its own provincial government and elected assembly.