ISLAMABAD: Three top leaders of the opposition alliance have urged the federal government to fulfil promises made to the residents of tribal areas which have been plagued by poor service delivery and lack of access to energy, water, education and health.

They also sought the reopening of the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for trade as it was the lifeline for people of the merged tribal areas.

The demands were made by PTI’s Asad Qaiser, MWM’s Allama Nasir Abbas and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai at a press conference with the elected lawmakers of former Fata on Tuesday.

The leaders of the six-party alliance of opposition parties — Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakis­tan — warned the situation in the erstwhile Fata continued to deteriorate with each passing day.

Qaiser, Achakzai, Raja Nasir demand reopening of Afghan border for trade

Mr Qaiser, the former National Assembly speaker, lashed at the federal government for not fulfilling the promises made to the tribal people.

He claimed the government had pledged to include the areas in the NFC Award and that a significant amount would be allocated for accelerated development in the merged districts.

“Instead of facilitating them, the federal government is taking revenge from the people,” he said, adding the closure of the border with Afghanistan had stifled economic activities.

Currently, there are sit-ins happening in Chaman, and Ghulam Khan border crossing in North Waziristan “but no one is talking to these protesters nor is anyone taking them seriously”.

The PTI leader also claimed that the security situation was deteriorating and unemployment was increasing, which would lead to unrest in the region.

“The demands of our people who are protesting should be met, and a parliamentary committee should be formed to address these issues. I urge the government to negotiate with all those who are leading the sit-ins.”

PkMAP’s Mr Achakzai echoed similar sentiments and said the erstwhile tribal areas should be given their due rights.

He urged the government to allocate money in the budget for the merged districts so they could “defend themselves and Pakistan”.

Mr Abbas of the MWM stated that the social system of tribal areas has been des­troyed and “handed over to terrorists”.

The MWM chief said the government should make sincere efforts to win the trust of people rather than abandoning them.

The representatives of tribal areas also highlighted several issues faced by their constituencies. They said that transportation was a major issue in Bajaur as the main roads in various areas of the districts were in shambles, causing significant problems for the locals.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024