PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Tuesday stressed that extending the country’s laws and administrative structure to the tribal region was the only viable solution to the sufferings of tribesmen.

He made these remarks while addressing a 100-member representative delegation of Fata Political Alliance at the CM House here.

The merger should neither be delayed nor obstructed as it would be against the will of the tribal people, he noted, saying that each agency had its own customs which should be respected.

After the merger, it would be difficult to stage-manage the elected members of Fata.

Mr Khattak said the IG FC had offered trained personnel for induction in the police for Fata. He assured the jirga that the merger plan would be in accordance with the aspirations of the tribal people. The people of Fata and KP have the same traditions and are comfortable with each other, he said.

The chief minister said the provincial government was not taken on board when the process of knowing the opinion of Fata people on their future was started.

He said after the merger the elected people would be accountable to the administrative head of the province or a representative of the federation.

Mr Khattak said his government had a set of recommendations for welfare of the tribal people.

Provincial minister Shah Farman, ex-MNA Akhunzada Chattan, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI leader Khalid Masood were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017