Tribal organisations on Tuesday demanded amendment in local government Act to establish an empowered and elected Fata Council of all tribal agencies as well as urged for giving agency councillors the power to elect Nazim Ala of the council.
The tribal organisation suggested that Fata Council should consist of tribal MNAs, senators and elected members while governor should work as head of the council. The council should have the power to amend the rules while its members should be given equal status of members of Provincial Assembly.
The Fata council should have the power to vote for presidential and Senate election while it should be run through an elected speaker and deputy speaker.
Fata Reform Forum, Fata Lawyers Forum and Agency Council Alliance, through a join news conference on Tuesday made the demands claiming that reforms in the old system were need of the hour to improve life standard of tribesmen and establish permanent peace for lasting development of Fata.
President, Fata Lawyers Forum, Karim Mahsud, Chief of Agency Council Alliance Taj Mahal Afridi and Chairman, Fata Reform Forum, Mohammad Zaman Dawar observed that controlling Fata through political agent had been a failed practice, therefore, establishment of an elected and empowered Fata council would steer the tribesmen out of the present uncertain situation.
They said Political Agent had been given immense power and could not be held accountable before any authority. The political administration has spoiled the situation in Fata and failed to deliver in all tribal agencies. Leaders of the tribal forums said that political administration had done nothing for the development of Fata.