Fata Political Alliance (FPA) has warned the federal government of protest campaign against unnecessary delay in the implementation of the proposed reforms in tribal region. Speaking at a seminar on 'Fata Reforms' at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, FPA president said that government's committee had proposed recommendations to bring reforms in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, however, it was using delaying tactics in implementing the proposed reforms agenda in its true letter and spirit which is tantamount to depriving people of tribal region from their constitutional, democratic and political rights.
He regretted that government was busy in non-serious issues instead of focusing on the implementation of reforms agenda in tribal agencies. He stated that tribesmen are being faced with difficulties due to the instability in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Similarly, he said the authorities concerned have failed to ensure the return of all displaced persons of the tribal region to their respective tribal agencies as announced. While, he added, no measures have been taken so far to move the proposed Fata reforms bill to National Assembly for its formal approval. He said the government's conduct has exposed the lack of seriousness on its part for the development of Fata and providing the people of tribal areas their fundamental rights promised in constitution.
FPA president said that they have decided to launch protests, stage sit-ins and initiate a mass mobilization drive with participation of parliamentarians, retired bureaucrats, members of civil society and students to press the incumbent ruling PML-N government to implement the reforms agenda in its true letter and spirit in tribal region. In this regard, he said that FPA will hold a gathering on May 14, and said that future course of action would be decided in this mega event about the delay in the implementation of Fata reforms.
Sardar Khan demanded that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor should only be given the powers availed by Governors in other provinces of Pakistan. He asked that without further delay Fata should be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the powers enjoyed by governor should be delegated to the provincial chief minister and legislators in KP Assembly.
JI leader Zarnoor Afridi vowed that they would continue their struggle to pullout the people of Fata from slavery for good. He said government is not sincere with people of Fata, reforms is a matter of life and death for tribal people and added that they will not rest until the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Wahid Afridi, Khyber agency president of the alliance suggested that Fata Political alliance should take parliamentarians on board in their struggle. Kinza Iqtedar female member of the alliance rejected the implementation of 'Rewaj' regulation act in shape of FCR Act in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. She demanded of the government to ensure equal participation of women in reforms process in tribal region.
PTI activist Fukharuddin said that tribesmen are undergoing difficulties in prevalent circumstances. But, he blamed bureaucracy, including political agents, influential people like Maliks, and government beneficiaries for creating hurdles in reforms, particularly bureaucracy. He vowed they would foil any attempt for continued deprivation and suppressing their fundamental rights.
Bajaur president Maulana Abdul Majeed said that the delay in reforms was a joke with people of Fata. There was immense resentment over the government policy. If the government didn't present reforms bill in NA till May 30 they will re-launch protest campaign, he warned.
He suggested that all political leadership should unite on this Fata reforms which is more important than Panama leaks. There is a sense of disappointment in tribal people and demanded to immediately implement reforms agenda to end deprivation of the rights of tribal people. FPA General Secretary, Iqbal Afridi, Fata lawyers Forum president Rahim Shah Afridi, Shah Hussain Shinwari, Shah Faisal Afridi, Janzada and others also spoke on the occasion.
They criticised the federal government for delaying in implementation of the proposed reforms agenda in Fata. They vowed to reinvigorate the struggle to press the government for the enactment of Fata reforms bill from both houses of the parliament. They viewed that FCR in fact deprived the tribal people from all their fundamental rights, and called for its immediate annulment. Later, a unanimous resolution was also adopted calling for an immediate and total annulment of Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) from Fata and merger of tribal region with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
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