Leaders of various political parties from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) demanded of the government to hold local bodies' elections in Fata, besides repealing the draconian Frontier Crime Regulations. The demand was made during a conference held here under the auspices of 'All Fata Political Parties Itehad'. Abdul Latif Afridi and Sheikh Jandad from ANP, Syed Kabir, Maulana Abdur Rasheed of JUI-F, Zar Noor Afridi from Jamaat-i-Islami, Mohammad Daud of PTI, Mohammad Zahir Shah Safi of Qaumi Watan Party, and Jehangiz Khan from PPP and others spoke.
The speakers said the tribal areas were deliberately kept backward and a large number of innocent civilians were killed in various attacks in the Fata.
They said despite amendments to FCR, the tribal people have not yet been given their basic rights.
They said that the government had announced to hold local bodies' elections in the entire country, but there was no word about local bodies' elections in Fata. The participants claimed that billions of rupees foreign funds meant for development of Fata were embezzled. The speakers demanded the Fata should be made a separate province as 'Qabalistan' and the draconian Frontier Crime Regulation be repealed.