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| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
Tribesmen seek basic changes in FCR
KHAAR (Bajaur Agency), Sept 19: Tribesmen have demanded reforms in the Frontier Crimes Regulation, separation of judiciary from the executive and cut in powers of political agents.
The demands were made by tribal parliamentarians, maliks, elders and other people while giving suggestions to the FCR Reforms Committee during its visit to the Bajaur Agency on Monday.
The committee’s chairman Mian Mohammad Ajmal and other members heard the suggestions.
Tribesmen termed the FCR the biggest hurdle in the way of development of the tribal areas.
They demanded representation of tribal people in the Frontier assembly.
Awami National Party leader Shahabuddin Khan said changes in the law and political liberty in the tribal areas were the need of the hour.
He said that unless reforms were introduced in the FCR and the Political Parties Act was extended to the tribal areas, the tribesmen would remain deprived of the fruits of independence.
He said political freedom in the region would neither affect the tribal traditions nor pose any threat to peace.
Rumpus was created during the meeting when Pakistan Muslim League leader Malik Khaista Gul while speaking in favour of the FCR passed comments against the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and tribal parliamentarians. He was prevented from giving suggestions on the reforms.
People’s Party Parliamentarians, Bajaur chapter, chief Akhunzada Chatan said changes in the FCR would not affect the tribal traditions.
He said wrong implementation of FCR provisions by the political authorities had damaged the traditions and the time-tested jirga system.
MMA MNA Maulana Mohammad Sadiq said the tribal people were in favour of scrapping of the FCR and enforcement of Shariat in their area. He said all the FCR provisions were repugnant to Islamic injunctions.
Tribal elder Malik Qadir Khan said people supported changes in the FCR but they would never like a system that would harm tribal traditions and the institution of jirga.
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