PESHAWAR, March 24: Panelists at a dialogue on Federally Administrated Tribal Areas reforms on Saturday called for establishment of an independent and democratically-elected council in the tribal region to effectively address the problems of the troubled and backward region.

They also urged the government to strictly enforce amendments to Frontier Crime Regulation and stop military operations in Fata, end prolonged curfew in Khyber Agency, give status of internally displaced persons to the dislocated persons, announce a comprehensive financial package for the conflict-affected people and take steps for their early rehabilitation.

The dialogue titled ‘Governance issues of Fata and way forward’ was organised by Fata Reforms Movement (FRM) in collaboration with Tribal Development Network (TDN) at the Peshawar Press Club, where political leaders and activists, representative of tribal youth organisations, and members of civil society organisations showed up in large numbers.

Panelists said the recent amendments to FCR had provided no relief to people of Fata and therefore, the colonial and imperialist law should be appropriately amended.

They said the idea of declaring Fata a separate entity or merging it with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was unworkable but creation of Fata council would streamline administrative and political affairs of tribal society and address unrest in the region.

Secretary general of Fata Reforms Movement Zahir Shah Shafi said there was a need to introduce administrative, constitutional and economic reforms in Fata.

He demanded removal of Article 247 of the Constitution to remove the president’s powers for managing Fata affairs.

Mr Shafi said the recent amendments to FCR weren’t sufficient and therefore, most issues of locals were unsolved. He said appropriate amendments to the draconian law without delay were imperative.

He declared Fata tribunal a useless body and said unfortunately, people from outside tribal areas had been appointed to it. He asked the government to appoint legal experts and people from Fata to the tribunal instead of retired bureaucrats from outside Fata.

Hassan Afridi of Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao told participants that a few stakeholders were creating hurdles to implementation of Fata reforms and therefore, all political forces should come up with a joint plan for necessary administrative and political changes in the region.

He suggested a free and fair referendum as a sustainable solution to Fata problems.

Mr Afridi said Fata reforms would be useless in presence of US-led forces in Afghanistan and Pakhtuns’ diversification in Balochistan.

FLF general secretary Samiullah expressed concern about poor implementation of Fata reforms and said amendments to FCR had failed to mitigate suffering of locals. He demanded that the government extend the judiciary’s jurisdiction to Fata and give Fata its maximum executive and legislative powers.

Engineer Rehmatullah, a member of Waziristan Qaumi Jirga, said a solution to Fata issue should be found in line with local norms and traditions.

Citizen Rights & Sustainable Development executive director Idress Kamal said merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would effectively address Fata problems and that more yet appropriate amendments to FCR was necessary for the benefit of tribesmen.

Fata Lawyers’ Forum president Ijaz Mohmand it was difficult to address Fata people’s problems through Fata tribunal because its members were non-locals. He stressed the need for establishment of independent and sovereign Fata Council to ease the locals’ misery.

Other speakers, including TDN chairman Nizaam Dawar and FLF general secretary Samiullah Afridi, urged the government to ensure early provision of basic facilities to Fata people.