22 September 2004	Wednesday	06 Shaban 1425

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PESHAWAR, Sept 21: Political parties on Tuesday rejected the proposal of nominated councils for the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas.

Speaking at a joint press conference here on Tuesday, they threatened to launch a joint protest movement if the federal government did not revoke its decision by Sept 30, adding the present system was based on exploitation.

Representatives of the PPP, PML-N, the Jamaat-i-Islami, the National Awami Party Pakistan and the Awami National Party, including former interior minister Naseerullah Khan Babar, PPP's provincial president Raheemdad Khan and Latif Afridi were also present in the joint press conference.

MNA Haroonur Rashid from the Bajaur Agency said that the majority of the people had opposed the formation of councils through nomination in Fata, but the federal government was reimposing an obsolete system in tribal areas.

"Nominated agency councils is an insult to the people of Fata," Mr Haroon remarked. Expressing concern over the formation of tribal councils, he said that it would further increase the powers of the political agents who were already enjoying unlimited powers under the Frontier Crimes Regulations.

He said that the government had constituted a committee headed by former chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) to introduce reforms at the grass roots level in Fata.

The committee, he said, proposed amendments to the FCR, modalities for holding local bodies elections in the Fata through adult franchise. Former interior minister Gen Naseerullah Babar said that it was a failure on the part of the successive governments to introduce reforms in Fata.

He said that the situation had changed in Fata and tribesmen, who, he said, had enough political wisdom, needed political freedom. He said that the government should allow leaders of political parties to visit the tribal territories to bring the people living in these areas into the mainstream political process.

"The government must abandon its authoritarian attitude towards Fata and take the tribal elders and the people into confidence on all issues," he said. Mr Babar said that every tribal person had the same right on his soil like other citizens in the country.

He condemned the ongoing military action in the South and North Waziristan tribal agencies and asked the government to withdraw troops from the region. He said that the situation in the Waziristan region was deteriorating and the government should urgently resolve the problem, adding that it was a matter of concern that the governor could not visit South Waziristan.

He said that under the 1973 Constitution, the Corps Commander could not interfere in Fata, but despite that the government had given powers to the Commander of the 11th Corps. Mr Babar also opposed the formation of a separate secretariat for Fata, adding that the government should take steps to integrate tribal areas into the NWFP.