KHAR: People from different walks of life in Bajaur Agency have welcomed a resolution passed by Senate about extending the jurisdiction of superior courts to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The resolution, passed by Senate on Monday, calls for amending Article 247 of the Constitution, allowing Parliament to make legislation to extend the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and high courts to tribal areas.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, the workers of various political and religious parties and human right activists lauded the members of Senate for unanimously adopting the resolution.

PPP leaders Syed Akhunzada Chattan and Awrangzeb, PTI leader Haji Sultan Khan Mamond, All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance president Haji Said Badshah, PML-N leader Haji Rahat Yousaf, JI leader Qari Abdul Majeed, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdur Rasheed, human rights activist Habibul Hassan Yad, Nawabzada Jalalud Din Khan and Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (Sparc) coordinator Hanifullah Jan talked to journalists.

They said that passing of the resolution regarding amendment to Article 247 of the Constitution was a historic and bold step towards provision of judicial and basic rights to the people of tribal areas.

Mr Chattan said that amendment to Article 247 was a longstanding demand of the tribal people. He added that the resolution would help to solve the problems of tribal people. He lauded PPP senators especially Senator Farhatullah Babar for tabling the resolution.

Mr Awarangzeb said that the resolution was a ray of hope for tribal people to get basic rights as they were deprived of the fundamental rights.

He criticised PML-N senators for trying to resist the resolution in the upper house. It showed that the PML-N government was not interested in providing basic rights to tribal people, he said.

However, Haji Rahat Yousaf said that credit for passing the resolution unanimously went to the federal government and PML-N senators. He said that the PML-N government was determined to bring positive and visible changes in tribal areas.

“The PML-N government is committed to giving equal rights to the people of tribal areas. It has always taken bold steps for the welfare of tribal people,” he said.

Habibul Hassan Yad said that amending Article 247 was necessary for extending the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and high courts to the tribal areas to ensure protection of the fundamental rights of tribal people.

Mr Yad expressed the hope that National Assembly would also follow the Senate and would pass the bill unanimously for amending Article 247 of the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, October 29th , 2014