The grand tribal convention (Jirga) here Thursday also called for inclusion of tribal elders in Pak-Afghan Peace Jirga, saying they are being directly affected by the deteriorating situation in the region.
The demand was made through the passage of a resolution from the jirga held here Saturday. The jirga also demanded establishment of an independent Fata council to enable tribesmen to formulate policies according to their culture and traditions and help restore peace in the troubled parts of the tribal region. Hundreds of tribesmen attended the grand tribal convention.
The tribesmen through another resolution called for granting equal rights for the Fata in National Finance Commission (NFC) to improve the standard of life in the impoverished region of the country. It was also demanded inclusion of Fata in Khushal Pakistan Programme like the other provinces.
These resolutions were adopted in a daylong Fata grand Jirga that was organised by Fata Grand Alliance to seek proposals from tribal elders for bringing peace and solution of the various problems of tribesmen.
Noted tribal elders and parliamentarians including Senator Hamidullah Jan Afridi, Senator Abdul Raziq Afridi, MNA Abdul Malik, MNA Ghulam Sadique, Bismillah Jan, former MNA, MNA Engineer Rashid, Dr Said Alam Mehsud, besides students and people from all walks of life participated in the Grand Jirga organised at Auqaf Hall.
The hall was jam-packed as around two thousands people were gathered in the hall besides coloured banners inscribed with various slogans were displayed.
It also called for the establishment of universities in Fata, abolishment of all sort of taxes, extension of Zakat Act, re-inclusion of 25 disputed villages in Mohmand Agency and the restoration of electricity in Frontier Region of Peshawar which had been disconnected for the last three months.
Senator Hamidullah Jan Afridi said despite the persistent complaints and protests by 20 parliamentarians, the government never took them into confidence while taking any decision regarding Fata.
"Tribesmen are peaceful people but are being defamed internationally as not a single al Qaeda personal was arrested from FATA and all of them were nabbed from Faisalabad, Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country," he said and added that unfortunately the tribesmen too, had committed a mistake some times back for which they were bearing the brunt.
Commenting on the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), the Fata Senator said it is a draconian law that had made the lives of people miserable. "We neither want FCR, nor would accept the laws of Thana (police station), Kachahry and Patwari. We don't need those laws, from which, others are not satisfied," he asserted.
About the law and order situation in Khyber Agency, some hidden hands wanted to destabilise the region and put two groups at loggerhead but for that, he pledged they need to be united to thwart the nefarious designs whether the elements are among the tribal or agencies.
He also called upon the government to pay royalty of Warsak and Gomal Zam dams and spend the amount on the developmental projects in Fata for bringing peace to the region.
Addressing the Jirga, Senator Abdur Raziq said that through a planned game, the soil of Fata is being used for which all the stakeholders need to be united. He underscored the need for women education in Fata so that future generation could take a leading role. MNA Abdul Malik, MNA Ghulam Sadique, Bismillah Jan, former MNA, MNA Engineer Rashid and Dr Said Alam Mehsud also spoke on the occasion.