ISLAMABAD: “The people of the Fata, particularly women, are suffering due to the colonial-era Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). Pregnant women die before they can reach the hospital due to the lack of healthcare facilities and locals are labelled terrorists because they are illiterate and poor,” said Anita Mehsud, who belongs to the Mehsud Tribe.

Speaking at ‘Merger of Fata’, a seminar hosted by the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation on Thursday, she and other speakers urged the federal government to implement the recommendations of the Fata reforms committee so that the people of one of the most neglected regions of the country could prosper.

All participants agreed that Fata needed to be rid of the colonial FCR and the culture of executive orders from Islamabad, which perpetuated their subjugation.

The seminar was chaired by PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar; other speakers included Fata Senator Sajid Hussain Turi, Senator Rubina Khalid, PPP leaders Akhunzada Chattan and Asif Khan and former ambassador Ayaz Wazir.


Lawmakers urge implementation of Fata reforms package; debate pros and cons of proposed merger with KP


A special committee on the Fata reforms headed by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz recently submitted its recommendations for several major reforms for the well being of the people of Fata, including its merger with KP.

The “open door” on Fata reforms must not be closed, warned Senator Babar.

“Only the people of Fata can bring a change in the region, not the actors who are playing politics over the proposed merger at this critical time, when there is consensus across the board over the reforms, with the preferred option being the conditional and gradual merger of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

PPP leaders Akhunzada Chattan and Asif Khan criticised JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PkMAP leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai for opposing the Fata reforms.

“I think the prime minister is not willing to implement the recommendations made by the Fata reforms committee in letter and spirit, which is why his close allies are opposing the reforms,” Mr Chattan alleged.

Former ambassador Ayaz Wazir said the option of Fata being made a separate province was in the best interests of its people, since this way, the area would have access to more resources and have better representation.

He said the government should start the reforms process because the people of Fata had been neglected for decades, but added that the merger of Fata and KP was not a wise decision.

“Those who are talking about a merger should not ignore the fate of the neglected districts of the country. I fear that after the merger, there will not be any significant improvement in the life of the people and it is high time the demand for a separate province should be fulfilled,” he said.

Senator Turi, who belongs to Fata, said he supported the idea of merging Fata with KP.

“For the last 70 years, Fata has suffered due to bad laws and has been known negatively in the country and abroad,” he said and suggested several points for inclusion in the proposed Rewaj Act, which will replace the FCR after the reforms are implemented.

He said the issues of a census, resource allocation, departmental packages and the rehabilitation of IDPs should be addressed before the reforms are implemented.

Senator Khalid said the federal government was unclear on the reforms and lacked a clear plan for a way forward.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017

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