PESHAWAR/KOHAT: Fata Grand Youth Alliance (FGYA) has opposed merger of Federally Administered Tribal Area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and asked the federal government to instead focus on rehabilitation of the displaced tribesmen.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, the alliance’s chief organiser Jaffar Adamkhel lamented that the government was least bothered to take practical steps for early rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons, reconstruction of infrastructure and provision of basic facilities to the affected people.

He said that before bringing other reforms in the tribal region the government should scrap FCR, improve the standard of education and health.

Wants govt to instead focus on rehabilitation of IDPs

Accompanied by the FGYA chairman Shakir Adamkhel, central president Rahat Afridi and other student activists, Mr Adamkhel said it was dire need of the hour to initiate development process in Fata.

He said the education and health facilities were next to nil as most of the buildings had been destroyed during the military operations against militancy.

The alliance leader suggested that an independent Fata legislative council or agency council should be constituted to resolve the tribal issues.

He said that the council should be empowered to make legislation for future of Fata.

He further said the political agents and Fata secretariat should be held accountable before the proposed council to eradicate corruption.

He called upon the government to take pragmatic steps for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure and restoration of sustainable peace in tribal regions before the implementation of the proposed reforms agenda in Fata.

The authorities, he said should focus on return of displaced families in an honourable manner and their rehabilitation in their respective tribal agencies prior to bringing any change in Fata through reforms.

Besides, he said the pace of development projects should be accelerated along with ensuring restoration of peace in Fata.

The tribal youth, he said could not accept merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the government should hold a referendum regarding future of Fata and seek opinion of tribal people.

Mr Adamkhel appreciated the stance of JUI-F emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai regarding the future of Fata.

In Kohat, the Fata Students Organisation at a rally here on Saturday demanded of the federal government to announce the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the FCR the protesters marched from Kutchery Chowk to Kohat Press Club.

Addressing the rally, Fata Political Alliance president Nisar Momand said that they also had the right to live like other people of the country and enjoy fundamental rights.

He was accompanied by Malik Iqbal Hussain of Orakzai Agency and FSO president Shaukat Aziz.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017