More than two-thirds of people from Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) believe that Pakistan is moving in the wrong direction, reflecting decline in optimism among the tribal people, reveals a survey carried out by Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (Camp).
The survey report titled "Understanding FATA-Vol. 5 (Attitudes towards Governance, Religion and Society in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas)" was launched by CAMP here on Wednesday, which is based on the opinions of 4,000 respondents with an equal number of males and females and 18 focus group discussions.
According to the survey, the largest group of respondents identified 'inability to provide basic amenities' as the greatest human rights concern in Fata. The 2011 survey shows a dramatic change in opinion with just 43 percent of the respondents declaring that they felt safe, an alarming decrease as compared to 2010.
Report further noted that variation in opinions was prevalent, with only 11 percent of the respondents desiring 'no reforms'. However, more than one-third of the FATA population was not able to offer an opinion, which highlights the need to educate people what reforms mean for them.
The report also highlighted the need to invest in education and health services, and creating employment opportunities as 'the biggest problems in Fata'. Addressing on the occasion, Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar said that only correct information could lead policy makers to make correct decisions and surveys and reports help in the task tremendously.
He added that there was a time when Fata was considered to be a more democratic and disciplined region than the rest of the country, despite its economic limitations. He said that the agony which the Tribal people have been suffering from over the last three decades has its roots in bad decisions of the past, not just in Pakistan but also on the international stage. Therefore, the international community, too, has a responsibility to set things right.
Masood said that in line with the Constitution of 1973, new policies introduced in Fata recently have made it mandatory for a person to be produced before the tribunal for judicial inquiry. He said that the concept of bail has been introduced in the region as well.
The extension of the Political Parties Act to Fata has also been a revolutionary change for the people as it allows them the right to hold and exercise political opinion as well as organise to defend their rights. Chief Executive Camp and author of the report Naveed Ahmad Shinwari said that the report shows the world what people in FATA were thinking now and follows the trend since 2007.
The key message of the report is that reforms and development activities must seek to empower the disenchanted people in Fata, so that issues concerning security and prosperity can be championed. This outcome will improve trust in the government and its international partners and also reduce social space for militants and extremists to justify their acts.
The 2011 survey shows a dramatic change in opinion with just 43 percent of the respondents declaring that they felt safe. A change compounded by an accompanying increase in feelings of insecurity. Although reforms appear to be generally supported in the survey, concerns remain as to the value of the changes formalised in August 2011."
Head of RIPORT Khalid Aziz said that the survey not only explains issues, but also raises questions and indicates future direction for policies. "As Pakistan does experience a growth of 3-4 percent in GDP due to its alliance with the US and, subsequent, engagements in the war on terror in the tribal regions, there is a lack of adequate sharing of incoming resources with the periphery," he added. He said that militancy was just one result of the alienation felt by the residents of Fata because of the treatment meted out to them by the Pakistan government.
Khalid further said that while 14 percent of FATA residents said that terrorism was the main problem in the region, almost 43 percent said the degenerating law and order situation was their chief concern. MNA from Fata Munir Orakzai said the root cause of all problems in Fata was the set of policies enacted in the region at present. He said that it was up to the residents of Fata to decide whether they wanted to merge into KP or an independent province.
However, he added that no political party could carry such a motion, as it requires national consensus on the issue. Munir, while emphasising the importance of development in the tribal regions, said that the mineral wealth of Fata was more than enough to help the entire country attain self- sufficiency.