PESHAWAR: The All Fata Political Alliance has rejected the constitution of government-sponsored Fata Reforms Committee and announced holding a jirga on Monday (Dec 4) in Peshawar to finalise date for a protest movement against the government’s lack of interest in giving the status of Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, former MNA and convener of the alliance, Akhunzada Chattan, said that all political parties in Fata had launched a drive to persuade the government to give the status of Pata to Fata, but it had been using delaying tactics.

He criticised Governor Mahtab Ahmad Khan for constituting the Fata Reforms Committee against the will of tribal people and demanded an end to the committee’s meetings with elders in various tribal regions.

“We will not accept any government-sponsored reforms committee because it has no representation of the local elders and only the people loyal to political administration have been adjusted in it,” Mr Chattan said.

He announced to hold a tribal jirga on Jan 4 (Monday) to decide the future course of action against the government’s tactics. He said that tribesmen were struggling to get rid of the Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR). He regretted that Fata was still ruled under this draconian law despite the movement by tribal elders and political leaders.

Flanked by PTI leader Iqbal Afridi, JI representative Zarnoor Afridi, JUI-F leader Maulana Ainuddin, ANP representative Nisar Mohmand, PML-Q representative Aftab Khan, QWP leader Zahir Shah, the alliance convener said that tribal people were no more ready to be treated under FCR and the government should give Fata the status of Pata.

Mr Chattan said that the all parties alliance had already protested against the government committee on Dec 16 at D-Chowk, Islamabad, and presented its demands to the government, but it received no response. He said that they were giving a call for the protest movement in compulsion.

He said that the Fata Secretariat officials and political administration could not bring any change in the lives of people and the government should accept demands of the alliance. He said that there were some hidden forces which did not want change in the prevailing system of Fata.

Mr Chattan, however, expressed his satisfaction over the restoration of peace in Fata and said it was due to the military operation against terrorists.

Zarnoor Afridi said that they wanted integration and unity of the country, but anti-state forces were trying to derail such efforts. He demanded of the federal government to merge Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Iqbal Afridi said that PTI wanted reforms in Fata, while a committee comprising tribal elders and political leaders would be formed soon to make efforts for resolution of the issues of tribal people.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2016