GHALANAI: The residents of Mohmand Agency staged a rally here on Monday to demand immediate merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The leaders of Mohmand Seyasi Ittehad, tribal elders and local leaders of different political parties except JUI-F participated in the rally. Holding placards and banners and chanting slogans of ‘Go FCR Go’, they marched from Ghalanai Bazaar to Mohmand Press Club.

Speaking on the occasion, All Fata Seyasi Ittehad president Nisar Mohmand, PPP leader Farooq Afzal, Mohmand Seyasi Ittehad president Sajid Khan and Saeed Khan of JI said that majority of tribal people wanted merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They criticised federal government for not discussing the issue in the cabinet meeting. They alleged that some opportunist leaders and tribal elders were hurdle to Fata reforms.

The speakers said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan Achakzai didn’t belong to tribal areas. They alleged that both the leaders were busy in anti-tribal people campaign on the behest of PML-N government. They called upon the Fata chapters of political parties to participate in the Islamabad sit-in, scheduled to be held on March 12.

They said that tribesmen should give representation in the provisional assembly and tribal areas should be concluded in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa before 2018 general elections.

Nisar Momand said that according to the report of Fata reforms committee, 90 per cent tribesmen wanted merger of Fata with the province. “The JUI-F chief and Mehmood Khan Achakzai are not sincere with tribesmen,” he alleged.

Mr Mohmand said that bureaucracy of Punjab didn’t want to unite Pakhtuns. He said that they wanted enforcement of 1973 Constitution in tribal areas. “Why some political leaders area opposing reforms in Fata,” he questioned.

Sajid Khan said on the occasion that nobody could stop the process of reforms in tribal areas. He said that JUI-F chief did not raise voice for displaced tribal people or construction of their damaged houses. Speaking on the occasion, Farooq Afzal said that federal government was not sincere to introduce reforms in Fata. “Holding local bodies’ elections in 2017 in Fata is a good omen,” he added.

Mr Afzal said that government should avail the chance to take credit for abolishment of FCR.

Saeed Khan said that thousands of tribesmen were kept in lockup under collective responsibility of FCR. He said that huge fines were imposed on tribal people under FCR.

The speakers threatened to continue their protest if government failed to accept their demand about merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2017