April 25, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 24: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced on Thursday formation of a nine-member cabinet committee to examine the Frontier Crimes’ Regulations (FCR) of 1901 and come up with suitable recommendations to repeal it.

In its first meeting on March 31, the federal cabinet had decided to form two committees, one for formulating proposals on the repeal of the FCR and the other for reinstatement of deposed judges.

After taking the vote of confidence, Mr Gilani had announced in the National Assembly that the British-era law would be repealed.

Later, the law ministry submitted a summary to the Prime Minister Secretariat for formation of the committees. The secretariat approved on Thursday the names of members of the committee on FCR.

Headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Farooq Naek, the committee includes Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah (PPP), Minister for States and Frontier Region Najamuddin Khan (PPP), Railways Minister Sardar Mehtab Khan (PML-N), Environment Minister Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi (Independent) and Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Nawabzada Khawaja Muhammad Khan Hoti (ANP).

The law minister has also included Leader of the House in Senate Raza Rabbani, Justice (retd) Mian Muhammad Ajmal and MNA Zafar Baig Bhattani in the committee.

Bitterly criticised by human rights activists and civil society, the FCR is in force in seven federally-administered tribal areas and six frontier regions and deals with inter-tribal matters.

The FCR was enforced by the British in the Pukhtoon areas to counter the fierce opposition to the British rule.

It is widely described as a black law because innocent men, women and children have been convicted under it.

Earlier, a Senate Committee on Human Rights had sent its recommendations to the federal government to remove the draconian and anti-human right provisions of the law.

A petition challenging the FCR is also pending before the Federal Shariat Court.