KHYBER: The Fata Qaumi Jirga (FQJ) has demanded of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to constitute a larger bench for speedy disposal of a case, challenging the merger of former tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At a meeting held in Jamrud on Sunday, the FQJ leaders argued that the apex court had promised forming a larger bench before last Ramazan for hearing a case, challenging the erstwhile Fata’s merger into KP, as according to them, it was carried out without fulfilling constitutional obligations.

Speaking on the occasion, FQJ leader Haji Bismillah Khan said that the people of tribal areas expected the SC to declare the merger null and void. He said four months had gone, but the promise to form a larger SC bench to hear the pleas was yet to be fulfilled, causing unrest among a majority of tribesmen opposed to the merger.

The elder cautioned that the FQJ won’t accept the KP government’s ‘unconstitutional’ measures to ‘take control’ of the natural resources of tribal areas.

He alleged that non-tribal people were employed in the merged districts depriving the talented local educated youth of jobs in government departments.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022