August 01, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 16, 1428

PESHAWAR, July 31: The Fata Grand Alliance has criticised former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking extension of the Political Parties Act, 1962, to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the alliance said that both the Supreme Court and the high court had no jurisdiction in the tribal areas and, therefore, the two courts could not take any decision in this regard.

The statement said that under Articles 246/247 of the 1973 Constitution, no forum could amend or extend any act without the consent of a Grand Jirga, because it was legally binding on everyone to seek opinion of the jirga regarding an amendment.

The statement said that Fata Lawyers’ Forum would oppose the move through an application. The alliance also criticised PML Senator S.M. Zafar for proposing merger of tribal areas with the NWFP.