KHAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shaukatullah Khan has said that the government will bring meaningful reforms in the tribal system and local government (LG) system would be soon introduced in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“The government has decided to introduce an effective local government system in the tribal areas and work on its draft has already been initiated,” he said while addressing a jirga of tribal elders during his visit to Bajaur Agency the other day. He claimed that the government would make meaningful changes in the tribal system to reduce people’s problems and ensure speedy justice and relief to tribesmen.

“Meaningful amendments in the old tribal system are the need of the hour as majority of tribesmen are demanding this,” he said. He said that the proposed LG system would be acceptable to people from all walks of life in Fata.

The governor assured the jirga that tribal elders and political leaders would be taken into confidence before introducing reforms and LG system in Fata.

About negotiations with Taliban, he said that so far talks with Taliban were going well and claimed that the nation would hear good news soon.

He said that these negotiations were important for restoration of peace in the country.

Mr Shaukatullah said that the federal government was taking interest in the development of Fata and promised that mega development schemes would be included in the next annual development programme of Fata.

He announced new water supply schemes for areas of Utmankhel tehsil. A number of elders, members of peace committees, leaders of different political parties, administration officials and MNA Shahabuddin Khan attended the jirga.

The urged the governor to focus on prompt resolution of people’s problems in the agency and Fata as a whole. Maulana Gul Dad Khan criticised the federal government for not taking the tribesmen into confidence on talks with Taliban.

He said that anti-militants elders of the agency would not accept any peace accord with Taliban if they were not taken into confidence.

He demanded of the government to immediately induct tribal elders in the negotiation team for talks with Taliban.

The tribal elders asked the governor to take notice of the ban on motorcycle riding in the agency. The governor, meanwhile, inaugurated the wildlife pheasantry in Khar.