PESHAWAR: The Fata Grand Alliance has demanded of the government to take pragmatic steps for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure and restoration of sustainable peace in tribal regions before implementation of the proposed reforms agenda. Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Malik Haji Khan Marjan Wazir, patron-in-chief of Fata Grand Alliance, said that government should focus on welfare of the returning displaced tribal people.

He said that before introducing reforms in Fata, government should ensure rehabilitation of tribal people in a dignified manner within the shortest possible time. He said that pace of development projects should be accelerated along with ensuring restoration of peace in the tribal regions. Mr Wazir said that an independent Fata legislative council or agency council should be constituted to resolve the issues of tribal people. He said that the council should be empowered to legislate about future of tribal areas. The political agents and Fata Secretariat should be held accountable to the proposed council to stop corruption, he added.

Flanked by Malik Waris Khan, Malik Abdul Razzaq, Malik Abdul Ghaffar, Malik Ahmad, Malik Attaullah and Malik Akbar Khan, Mr Wazir said that elimination of corruption could only be ensured in Fata with shelving powers of governor. He also asked demanded construction of university, medical and engineering colleges, and postgraduate college in each tribal agency.

FGA suggests independent legislative council for tribal areas

He said that Fata should be given six per cent share in National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and adequate share in development schemes under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to bring tribal areas at par with developed parts of the country.

“If authorities fail to resolve the issue, then a referendum should be held to decide the future of the Fata,” said Mr Wazir. He said that four Fata parliamentarians tabled a bill in National Assembly and suggested three options for future of tribal areas including a separate status for Fata, its merger with the province and constitution of an independent legislative council for the areas.

The elder criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not including tribal members in Fata reforms committee. He said that future of millions of tribesmen could not be put at stake on recommendation of a group of four ‘opportunist’ Fata MNAs.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2017