People of different walks of life including politicians, legislators' civil society from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have welcomed passage of KP-Fata Merger Bill from Parliament and termed it historic step towards mainstreaming of the region. Talking to media, the parliamentary leader of FATA parliamentarians Shahgee Gul Afridi said that treasury and opposition benches deserve credit and appreciation for passage of the historic bill from National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan with overwhelming majority.
"Certainly, tribal people would now get the same legal, civil, constitutional and human rights as being enjoyed by people of Pakistan. They will now get better education, health, water and others socio-economic services at their doorsteps," he maintained. He said the draconian and century-old FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulations) law would be repealed and tribesmen would get speedy justice as the law allowing Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court's jurisdiction to Fata has already been passed by the present Parliament.
Another MNA tribal MNA Shahab-ud-din Khan also praised the KP-Fata merger bill and termed it historic development. "FATA merger in KP is the best solution keeping in view the close horizontal linkages of the tribal agencies and frontier regions besides social, linguistic and cultural norms and tradition of tribesmen and people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa," he reiterated.
Most of the officers serving in Fata belonged to KP who knows the customs, culture, history and traditions of tribal areas and there would be no issue in disposal of cases and official engagements for them. The MNA said Political Agents were enjoying unlimited administrative, legal and financial powers and now they would be answerable to courts, Parliament and Government directly on any issue of public importance.
Mohmand Anwar, Executive Director, Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) also welcomed passage of 31st Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Parliament for merging Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, and extending parliament jurisdiction to all federally administered and provincially administered tribal areas.
"The bill is a very welcome step for ensuring right of democratic representation of all hitherto tribal areas by doing away with Article 247 of Constitution," he said, adding Fata will have provincial representation for the first time in history. He said that the amendment bill, extending parliament and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly jurisdiction to FATA will effectively bring it into the legal and legislative framework of Pakistan."
The members of Provincial Assemblies for Provincial Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) will be able to enact laws for their respective constituencies, he added. Senior PPP leader Rahimdad Khan and ANP leader Wajid Ali Khan also welcomed KP-Fata bill and maintained that it would enhance image of the country besides bringing Fata into national mainstream.