ISLAMABAD: The Army has again publicly voiced its support for reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Addressing a delegation of elders and youth from Fata on Wednesday, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa said: “Pakistan Army fully supports the mainstreaming of Fata and shall pursue it in line with aspirations of our tribal brothers.”

This is not the first time the army chief has expressed support for the wide-ranging Fata Reforms Package that was approved by the federal cabinet on March 2.

The package envisages both legal and administrative measures. However, the timing of the army chief’s statement is important as it comes at a time when the government is looking to dither on its pledge to introduce a legislative bill in the National Assembly to extend the writ of the Peshawar High Court and the Supreme Court to the tribal regions, in what could have been the first major concrete step towards implementation of the reforms.

Briefs tribal elders on his engagement with Afghan leaders for better cooperation and security measures along border

The legislative bill, which was supposed to be introduced on Monday, was held back for unexplained reasons leading to vociferous protest by opposition parties that have been pressing the government to move ahead with the reforms. The government’s reluctance is believed to be linked to the opposition to the reforms expressed by two of its key allies — the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and the Pakh­tunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

Further progress on the matter is expected on Friday when Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is currently in Istanbul for the extraordinary OIC summit called in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, would brief the parliamentary leaders on the issue.

The military is a proponent of Fata reforms and has been pushing for their implementation. The institutional view has been that the Fata reforms are imperative for the development of tribal areas and sustaining the achievements of security forces.

Gen Bajwa told the tribal delegations that the achievements in the fight against terrorism were being “consolidated” as the region moved “from relative stability to enduring peace”. He advised the youth to continue playing a positive role towards peace and progress of Fata. According to the ISPR, the visiting tribal delegations had shared their views regarding mainstreaming of Fata and the possible ways forward.

Gen Bajwa also shared his engagement with Afghan leadership for enhanced cooperation and security measures along the Pak-Afghan border.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2017