LANDI KOTAL: The ‘anti-reforms lobby’ came under scathing criticism from the Fata parliamentarians, activists of political parties and pro-reforms youth of tribal areas for disrupting a consultative seminar in Peshawar on Friday.

Questions were also raised about the purpose and timing of the seminar as the report about reforms’ recommendations was prepared and compiled through a consultative dialogue with almost all the stakeholders of tribal areas.

MNA from Bajaur, Shahabuddin Khan, was skeptical about the presence of a large number of pro-government tribal elders at the seminar while activists of almost all the mainstream political parties were not invited.

Expressing his disapproval of the purpose of convening the seminar, the Khan of Pashath told Dawn that the report was now in the parliament for a general debate and all the Fata parliamentarians were given a firm assurance by the federal government about the start of implementation of the reform process immediately after its passage from the parliament.

Mr Shahabuddin said that he himself now had doubts about the real intentions of the government as a consultation dialogue had been restarted despite ascertaining the opinions of almost all the stakeholders during the nine-month long consultation process throughout Fata by the federal government-nominated five-member reforms committee.

Parliamentary leader of Fata MNAs in the National Assembly, Haji Shahji Gul, was very critical of the role of pro-government tribal elders and accused them of ‘dancing to the tune of anti-state elements’.

He blamed the political administration in tribal areas for instigating these elders who had been the recipient of official perks and privileges.

“The Frontier Crimes Regulation serves as oxygen for these selfish tribal elders as they derive all their strength and status from this inhuman, un-Islamic and unconstitutional system in connivance with the political administration,” Mr Gul stated.

He alleged that some foreign agencies were also behind hindering the process of reforms in Fata.

Khyber Agency ANP leader Darya Khan Zakhakhel termed the incident of disrupting the seminar by the pro-administration elders as very unfortunate and said that such behaviour by the elders was in contrast to the centuries old tribal traditions.

He said that it was time the people of Fata exhibited political maturity by respecting the opinions of rival groups.

“Merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or the creation of separate province both were aimed at reforming the tribal administrative structure and both these opinions should be respected,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2016