The activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Agency chapter staged a sit-in outside the Governor's House, here on Saturday, to protest against Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and delay in merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The sit-in was announced by the PTI's student wing Fata Students Organizations (FSO) that was also seconded by PTI and various civil society organizations.
The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. The political workers and civil society activists were led by Ali Muhammad Khan, PTI's MNA from Mardan, Qaiser Jamal, MNA from Frontier Regions (FR) and MNA from NA-2 Peshawar Hameedul Haq. They reached the Governor's House in a procession that also caused severe traffic congestion on all roads. Passengers suffered from hardships in reaching their destinations as traffic was diverted from main Sher Shah Suri Road at different points.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad, Abdul Ghani from tehsil Bara, Qaiser Jamal and FSO president Shaukat Aziz spoke to the protesters. They expressed concern over delay in merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and termed it an injustice to the tribal people.
The FSO chief said that the protest was the last option as they could no longer live under the black law of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). They said that federal government formed reforms committee, which submitted recommendations, but now the government seemed not serious in implementing the reforms plan creating unrest among tribal people. They accused the federal government of ridiculing tribal people for the last two years. They said that government was bound to give basic rights to tribal people as per their wishes and rid them of FCR, at the earliest.
They vowed that they would continue to raise voice in support of tribal people, and urged the government to implement the reforms at the earliest to satisfy people. The PTI's MNAs further said that KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, being the general secretary of PML-N, also signed a joint communiqué in that regard but now he avoided playing needed role in this process.
They demanded of the government to abolish FCR and approve early merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the process of merger should be completed before 2018 general elections so that tribal people could get representation in the provincial assembly.
Other speakers said that they were compelled to protest as they were left with no other option. They said that tribal people would continue protest if government did not accept their genuine demands. They also demanded opening of schools and hospitals in tribal areas. Later, the sit-in was called off after assurance by the officials to resolve the issue, soon.