The Fata Grand Alliance on Monday demanded of NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Orakzai to take notice of the deteriorating situation in Bara, Khyber Agency, saying that some vested interests were creating anarchy in the area through a well-planned conspiracy.
Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC), Dr Said Alam Mehsood and Taj Mahal Afridi, members of the co-ordination committee the alliance, said that the situation had been created to justify militarisation of the political administration of the tribal belt.
They said that the matter was brought to the notice of the government three months back, but no measures were taken. "The matter should be resolved after taking tribal elders into confidence," they added.
They alleged involvement of intelligence agencies in the situation, and demanded of President General Pervez Musharraf to take measures for bringing about improvement in the situation.
The FATA grand alliance, they said, has representation of all segments of the society from the tribal area including lawyers, students, elected councillors, journalists, doctors and tribal elders. They said that a meeting of the co-ordination committee is scheduled for June 20 in Peshawar to discuss the problems faced by the tribesmen and launching of a joint struggle for their resolution. The alliance called for sanctioning funds from National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for the development of FATA.
Terming the establishment of industrial and trade zones in tribal area a good omen for the development of the region, they demanded initiating these projects in consultation with the people of FATA and Tribal Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI). The alliance called for merger of the 25 disputed villages with Mohmand Agency. However, they added that they would not allow merger of the tribal belt with settled areas.