Jamiate Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Fata has strongly opposed the imposition of any decision against the wishes of people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), and announced to launch a protest movement against merger of Fata into KP from next month across the tribal region.
Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, JUI-F Fata Ameer, Mufti Abdul Shakoor said that his party was completely against any decision without consultation of tribal people regarding future of Fata. He stressed the need of taking the tribesmen on board before the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that it was unacceptable to bring changes on wishes of few parliamentarians in tribal region. He said the opinion of tribesmen should not be underestimated in this crucial decision.
Accompanied by Mufti Ejaz Shinwari, along with all executive committee members of the party, Abdul Shakoor has warned that if any unilateral decision would impose on the tribal people, it will be strongly resisted. He went on to say that a conspiracy was being hatched to control over the natural and mineral resources on name reforms and changes in Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Regarding the Fata reforms committee formed by government, he said his party had already challenged the committee in parliament. He viewed that the committee didn't consult with tribal people, except few maliks and opportunists. JUI-F tribal leader categorically rejected the Fata Secretariat survey figures and procedure, conducted for merger of Fata into KP, and termed it as insult of opinion of tribal people. He said Fata is lacking all kind of communication facility, then how had made possible to get opinion from tribal people, he questioned.
He demanded that the opinion of tribal people should be determined by a democracy manner, and would take decision in light of this decision regarding future of Fata, he added. Abdul Shakoor has asked the Fata political alliance to shun undemocratic merger of Fata into KP and anti-tribal agenda and come to negotiation table to put forward the ongoing reforms process and block any agenda against the people of Fata. Later, he announced the protest scheduled against the merger of Fata into KP, according to which a protest rally would be held at Bajuar Agency on January 08, followed by protest in Khyber Agency on 15th January, Mohmand Agency on 29th and 5th February in Kurram Agency.