PESHAWAR: Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Fata chapter, on Thursday took out a rally on Sher Shah Suri Road and held a demonstration outside the Governor’s House against FCR. They urged the government to approve Fata reforms at the earliest.

The rally was led by PTI Fata leader Mohammad Iqbal Afridi. The protesters were holding party flags and banners inscribed with demands for approval of Fata reforms and for scrapping FCR. They also changed slogans such as “go FCR go”.

The participants marched from the press club and gathered outside the Governor’s House where they shouted slogans against the government for using delaying tactics in implementation of reforms.

Speaking on the occasion, Iqbal Afridi said that the federal government was using delaying tactics to implement Fata reforms though the people had given their consent in support of the reforms. He said that the people would not sit silent over the issue and they would continue to raise voice for the rights of tribal people.

Mr Afridi accused Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai of working against the interests of Fata people. He said that these leaders had nothing to do with Fata, but even then they forced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stop the reforms process.

It was observed that the rally caused traffic problem for some time on the busy thoroughfare. However, afterwards the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2017