PESHAWAR: The politicians and elders belonging to different tribal regions have sought complete repeal of Frontier Crimes Regulation to ensure provision of all fundamental and constitutional rights to tribal people.

They also supported merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, the tribal elders, led by PTI leader and president of All Fata Political Parties Alliance Haji Mohammad Iqbal Afridi, said that FCR had deprived tribal people of basic human rights. The abolishment of FCR was must for bringing true reforms in tribal society, they added.

Demand financial package of Rs500 billion for reconstruction in Fata

All Fata Political Parties Alliance general secretary and JI leader Zaroon Afridi, information secretary Ejaz Afridi, QWP leader Mustafa Khan, Fata Lawyers Forum president Rahim Shah Afridi and tribal elders Taj Mehal and Dr Samiullah Jan spoke on the occasion.

Suhebdar Shahjehan, a tribal elder, told the press conference that tribesmen were faced with difficult situation despite the fact that they had rendered enormous sacrifices for their motherland. He said that Fata was kept backward deliberately while a large number of displaced tribal people were leading miserable life.

“We want peace, progress and development. It is only possible with abolishment of FCR,” said Shahjehan. He asked Fata parliamentarians to table a bill in National Assembly for merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ejaz Afridi said that Fata was considered an unfortunate region where people were deprived of all basic human rights.

He said that despite living in an independent country, tribal people were still fighting for their independence from the policies imposed on them by successive governments.

He said that a large number of tribal people became homeless in the wake of military operations in Fata. He said that health, education and other facilities were turned into rubble in Fata. He also criticised Fata parliamentarians for ignoring tribal people.

Similarly, Mustafa Khan said that government should implement FCR in the entire country if it was such a good law.

He said that on one hand federal government launched enrolment drive in Fata while on the other hand it closed down many schools in the tribal region.

He demanded of the government to immediately reopen all educational institutions in Fata.

Rahim Shah Afridi said on the occasion that tribal people were still like slaves despite living in an independent country. He said that FCR was unconstitutional and unethical law. He said that around 90 per cent tribal people were favouring merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Other speakers said that tribal people wanted to get rid of FCR forever. They said that FCR was a black law, which should be abolished immediately.

They demanded amendments in Article 247 of the Constitution to ensure provision of all basic rights to tribal people and extension of jurisdiction of superior courts to Fata.

They also demanded a package of Rs500 billion for reconstruction, development and rehabilitation in the tribal areas.

They urged Governor Iqbal Zaffar Jhagra to play his role in bringing reforms in Fata.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016