ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Thursday unveiled recommendations aimed at mainstreaming FATA to end poverty and years of neglect.
Aziz, in his capacity as Chairperson of the FATA Reforms Committee told reporters at a press conference here at the Foreign Office that the region faced Pakistan's highest rate of endemic poverty and lowest development indicators, with its people facing huge deficit of human rights.
He said FATA Reforms figured prominently under the National Action Plan formulated for undertaking counter measures against terrorism, as it was infested with armed national and international militant groups, who challenged the writ of the state.
The report has already been presented to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and discussed in a meeting of National Action Plan, where it was agreed to make its finding public to elicit further debate and develop national consensus.
Aziz said the forthcoming sessions of the Senate and National Assembly would also hold a debate and suggestions from all stakeholders would be incorporated to make it more effective.
The Committee pointed that the consultation process brought forward four options of transformation of FATA. These include maintaining of the status-quo with minor changes; or granting special status to FATA like Gilgit-Baltistan; creating a separate province for FATA, or integrating FATA into KPK province.
Integrating FATA into KPK made more sense keeping in view the close horizontal linkages of agencies and FRs with the adjacent KPK districts. These trade and economic links were also reinforced by social and cultural consanguinity with FATA tribes, the Committee recommendations said.
The FATA Reforms Committee also favoured repealing the existing Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) with the new "Tribal Areas Rewaj Act" and the Jirga system.
Minister for SAFRON Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Abdul Qadir Baloch responding to a question said that during the consultations all stakeholders expressed unanimity on the Rewaj Act, terming it part of their age-old tradition. He however dispelled the impression that it would be in conflict with the existing laws of the country.
He said the provisions relating to collective responsibility in the FCR will be omitted in the new Act, thereby making an individual responsible for his own acts.
Under this act the judge will not be the political agent but will be a judicial officer. While the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court shall stand extended to FATA.
The Jirga system will remain prevalent in criminal and civil disputes, while it was also proposed to codify the "Rewaj" in each agency.
The Committee also proposed to carry out land settlement in FATA so that this land asset can be capitalized to release locked up funds.
Following an over eight month long "extensive consultative process" the committee held meetings with parliamentarians from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), tribal elders, religious leaders, leaders of major political parties in FATA, the business community, civil society representatives and youth organizations.
The six-member FATA Reforms Committee was headed by Chairperson, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while its members included Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Governor KPK, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Qadir Baloch Minister for SAFRON, Zahid Hamid, Minister for Law & Justice, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Nasser Khan Janjua National Security Adviser and Muhammad Shehzad Arbab, Secretary SAFRON.
The total population in FATA is around five million and comprises the Agencies of Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan, besides the Frontier Regions of Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Lakki, Tank and D.I.Khan.
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