December 15, 2006	Friday	Ziqa'ad 23, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 14: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday warned of more violence and lawlessness in Fata if the government failed to introduce the much-awaited reforms in the tribal system.

The seminar on “Reforms in Fata” was organised by the Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), a Peshawar-based NGO, in Jamrud.

Addressing the participants, Jamaat-i-Islami NWFP deputy secretary-general Zar Noor Afridi said that the war-like situation in Afghanistan had a direct impact on tribal areas of Pakistan.

He said that a rapid change of events in the region had rendered the age-old tribal customs and traditions useless and ineffective, adding that unless peace was restored in Afghanistan, no reforms package could be implemented in this region. He blamed secret agencies for worsening law and order situation in Waziristan, Bajaur and Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.

Mr Afridi said that basic rights of the Fata people should be given constitutional protection, besides empowering the tribal representatives to legislate for their respective areas.

Awami National Party leader Latif Afridi was of the opinion that Fata should be merged into the NWFP. “This is the only solution to all problems of the Fata people.”

He demanded that the tribal people should be given representation in both provincial and national assemblies.

He also demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged misuse and mismanagement of billions of dollars given by donor countries for the development of tribal areas.

Mr Latif Afridi criticised the government for its failure to implement the recommendations of various reforms committees in tribal areas. He accused Gen Musharraf of leaving the tribal people at the mercy of Taliban and US-led allied forces.

He claimed that the Bajaur bombing was carried out by US forces. He said that a restriction on political activities in Fata had given a freehand to extremist religious elements to operate and fill the political vacuum.

Iqbal Khyberwal of Tehrik-i-Insaf suggested that reforms should be introduced gradually, powers of the political administration be curtailed, the agency council should be made more powerful with some of administrative powers to be delegated to its council, formation of an independent tribal judicial council and amendments to those clauses of the Frontier Crimes Regulation which were repugnant to the basic human rights.Mr Khyberwal said that Khasadar and levies forces should be reorganised for an improvement in the law and order situation in Fata.

Fata Reforms Committee member Tor Gul Chamkani alleged that the tribal people had never been taken into confidence in the preparation and implementation of reforms in their area.

He dispelled the impression that the FCR was in accordance with the tribal customs and traditions and alleged that the regulation was introduced by the British rulers to subjugate the tribal people.