Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Governor Barrister Masood Kausar Thursday said that the government would take tribal people on board while making any administrative, political or judicial decisions to change the prevalent system of governance in Federally Administrative Tribal Areas, saying that it was believed in honouring sentiments of the tribal people.
Talking to a Jirga of elders of Darra Adam Khel (FR Kohat), the Governor strongly denied any move regarding merger of FRs with the respective districts as reported in the press." Being the Chief Executive, nothing like that has so far come to my notice", he categorically said while responding a point raised by a member of the Jirga about the issue of merger of FRs with the respective districts, adding that the matter reported in the media was totally baseless and unfounded. He assured the Jirga that the government would take the tribal people on board while taking such drastic decisions.
Referring about the present reforms in Fata, he said that all required steps had been followed before taking final decision in this regard. He viewed that the reforms were the result of hectic efforts including consultations with the Fata people at different level to seek their consent and agreement to the amendments in the FCR.
The Jirga headed by Senator Abdul Raziq met the Governor at Governor's House here on Thursday. They diverted the attention of the Governor towards some major problems and issues concerning the area and demanded necessary action to redress. They particularly raised the issues like electricity and gas supply to the area, enhanced educational and health facilities and industrial development.
Senator Abdul Raziq and other members of the Jirga said on the occasion that the law and order situation in FR Kohat was speedily moving towards normalcy and assured the Governor of their all out support to further strengthen the situation and maintain peace. Governor while talking to the jirga said that he would soon initiate the process of consultation with the tribal people on the future course of action in light of the recently made amendments to FCR and extension of PPO to Fata.
Barrister Masood said that Fata people had adequate political awareness and hoped that the political activities in Fata would make the tribal society more democratic and politically stable. He said that the government wanted to further stabilise the system in Fata to remove the weaknesses that had emerged over the time. All this, he added would be done with the consent and support of the tribal populace.
He urged the elders to take interest in the polio eradication efforts, saying that they should particularly play their role in persuading the people to vaccinate their kids. He said that it was a national obligation to save our coming generation from this crippling disease. Regarding the demands made by the Jirga, the Governor assured to convene a meeting of the respective officials to take appropriate decision in this regard. He acceded to the demands of grid station and gas supply and assured that the matter would be taken up with the respective quarters at appropriate level. Members of the Jirga included Malik Muhammad Ayub Zarghun Khel, Malik Wali Khan, Malik Raees Khan, Malik Sher Dil, Javed Iqbal, Abbas Khan, Hura Jan, Wali Muhammad, Malik Zar Mohammad, Malik Rehan and Malik Nawab Shah.