ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a conference on Friday called for extension of law of land to Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) asserting that political and judicial vacuum has provided space to militants.

Politicians, legal experts and researchers on Fata here at a conference on: Introducing Local Bodies’ Elections in Tribal Areas unanimously agreed that peace in the troubled tribal area would remain a dream until the local people were given rights to vote.

Held under the auspices of Fata Research Centre, a non-partisan and independent research organisation, the conference highlighted the plight of people in tribal areas living under a century-old Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) rule terming it a draconian law.

“Fata is a no go zone for everybody except for terrorists and security agencies. Therefore, nobody really knows what actually happens there,” Ajmal Wazir, PML-Q leader and a native of South Waziristan Agency said.

He regretted that Political Agent appointed by federal government was an ‘uncrowned king’ of a tribal agency who was judiciary and executive and could imprison anybody for years with the accused having no right to appeal in any other court of the country under the FCR.

“The notion that Fata is a strategic depth has devoured rights of millions of tribal people leading to a sense of deprivation and alienation among them. Let me say that the federal government has deprived its people of fundamental rights and their own Pashtun values,” Mr Wazir added.

Justice (retired) Mian Mohammad Ajmal suggested that President Mamnoon Hussain could use his office for issuing an ordinance allowing immediate local bodies elections in Fata arguing that if KP government could hold lections then what ails the government to deprive the people of the tribal areas of availing this facility.

He pointed out that the elections for the seats of MNAs and Senators from Fata areas were symbolic as Fata lawmakers had never legislated for bringing reforms to their own constituencies.

“Law and order should not be made an excuse for not holding LB polls in Fata. If elections to the offices of MNAs could be held, then why not for the local polls,” he asked.

The retired judge suggested that an appellate court, headed by a retired High Court or Supreme Court judge, should be constituted for Fata in order to give rights of appeal to tribal people.

The conference was attended by elders (maliks) of all the seven tribal agencies calling for repeal of all draconian laws.

Director FRC Dr Ashraf Ali said that pressure groups would be used for pressurizing the federal government to introduce law of land in tribal parts of the country which he said would drive the third force (militants) out of Fata after participation of general public in polling process.