PESHAWAR: The federal government has turned a deaf ear to the proposals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police regarding full deployment of the Frontier Constabulary troops along the porous Peshawar-Torkham border and giving approval for appointment of the Fata youth in the police department to bring the tribal regions into mainstream.

Referring to letters sent to the federal ministry of interior by Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani, a senior police officer said that the federal government was yet to respond and thus there was no progress in the situation in the issues of law and order relating to tribal regions.

Keeping in view the cross-border movement of militants the KP police chief had about one and a half years ago suggested that the Frontier Constabulary should be tasked to establish permanent checkposts at such distances that its personnel could conduct effective ‘milap gasht’ or joint patrols between their posts. But the FC is still posted in different cities, including the federal capital, and not returned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Of the short-term recommendations, the police had suggested registration of all households, collection of information of those residing in different tribal regions or shifting from their villages so that a permanent record could be maintained.

IGP says tribal people feel highly alienated

It had also suggested registration of mobile phone sets and SIMs of tribal people with the political administration. It was proposed that the residents should be bound to inform the relevant assistant political agent every time they would buy a new mobile set or SIM. It was also stated that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority should be urged to constitute a special body for verification of SIMs operating in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on priority basis so as to block Afghan SIMs.

In addition, the police chief had also recommended building the capacity of civil law enforcement agencies in the tribal areas. Similarly, the federal government was requested to create and finance as a special package at least 3,000 posts for Fata in the KP police department to enable the tribal youth to be enlisted in the police as constables and assistant sub-inspectors. It was stated that the recruitment from Fata will also advance the cause of national harmony, which is a pre-requisite for winning the fight against terrorism.

The IGP had also given some long-term suggestions to the federal government, which include employment of an effective border management system along the Pak-Afghan border, integration of Fata in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or creation of a separate province comprising tribal areas. Likewise, he had also suggested reforms in the legal structure for Fata and unification of law across the country, and extension of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction, due process of law and Political Parties Act to Fata.

When contacted, IGP Durrani said that he had written to the interior ministry in good faith in order to overcome the menace of terrorism. “Since most of the terrorist organisations have their bases in Fata and control large parts thereof, the residents of Fata are condemned to live under the shadow of terror. The tribal people complain that the opportunities for normal living have been severely truncated in the regions, its economy has been badly disrupted, jobs have dried up and development projects are either non-existent or moving very slowly in Fata,” he said.

He said that the people of Fata felt highly alienated, frustrated and disaffected. He said that it was general perception that the people of Fata considered themselves ‘lesser citizens’ and they did not enjoy rights equal to the rest of their countrymen. “Such feelings are highly dangerous for the national harmony,” he commented.

Mr Durrani said that all the seven tribal agencies and the six Frontier Regions (FRs) connected at least 12 districts from Lower Dir to Dera Ismail Khan and in such a situation movement of the anti-state elements to the settled areas could not be stopped.

He said that implementation of his proposals could help improve the law and order situation to a great extent and remove the unrest among the people of Fata.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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