KHAR, Sept 15: Speakers at a seminar here on Sunday threatened to launch a protest movement if government didn’t announce local bodies’ elections in Federally Administered Tribal Areas within the next two weeks.

The seminar titled ‘Democratic process in tribal areas’ was organised by All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance that was attended by local leaders of various political and religious parties, members of civil society and tribal elders.

All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance president Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Haji Rahat Yousaf, Maulana Mustfa of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Aurangzeb of Pakistan People’s Party, Gul Dad Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Sardar Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami addressed the seminar.

They said that democracy was the best system of governing as it could provide basic civic facilities and fundamental rights to all citizens.

“Democracy is the guarantee of equal rights to all humans and it is essential for the protection of rights of common man,” they said.

The speakers said that imposition of Frontier Crimes Regulation, absence of constitutional rights and lack of proper justice system were main hurdles in the development of tribal areas. They added that people of tribal areas couldn’t make progress till constitutional rights and basic civic facilities were not provided to them.

The speakers said that according to Constitution of Pakistan tribal areas were part of the country but residents of Fata were deprived of the fundamental rights.

“The tribesmen are the most peaceful and patriotic citizens of the country as they have always rendered great sacrifices for the country but so far no ruler is ready to provide equal rights to them,” they added.

The speakers urged the government to take serious steps to ensure provision of fundamental rights and basic civic facilities to the tribal people.

They demanded of the federal government and the president of the country to speed up efforts for strengthening democratic process in the tribal areas.

“Strengthening democratic process and bringing meaningful reforms in the current tribal system are needs of the time because these are vital for promotion of peace and development of tribal areas,” they said.

The speakers demanded of the president to introduce local governments system in the tribal areas.

They said that the local bodies system was vital for provision of basic facilities to tribal people.

The speakers said that All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance would launch protest movement if government didn’t announce local bodies’ elections in Fata within the next two weeks.