PESHAWAR: The All Fata Political Parties Alliance staged a rally here on Tuesday against the federal government, Jamiat Ulema Islam–Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai for ‘hampering’ the merger of tribal region with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They warned that if the merger issue wasn’t resolved without delay, the workers of the alliance would besiege parliament.

Led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Fata leader Haji Mohammad Iqbal Afridi and Awami National Party leader Nisar Mohmand, the protesters gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club and shouted slogans against the federal government and all those opposing the Fata-KP merger, especially JUI-F and PMAP leaders.

They alleged that the JUI-F and PMAP leaders opposed the merger to serve own political ends.

Fata political alliance criticises Fazl, Achakzai for hampering merger plan

The protesters said the Fata people had unanimously raised voice against the black laws, especially Frontier Crimes Regulation, and wanted the early merger of their region with KP but the federal government was using action on the matter to please its partners.

Mr Afridi said if JUI-F and PMAP didn’t stop opposing the merger, the people of Fata would not allow the leaders of the two parties to enter their region. He said those opposing the merger wanted to push the tribal people into darkness.

“Everyone knows the advantages of the Fata-KP merger and will continue raising voice for it,” he said.

Mr Nisar Mohmand said the Fata people had suffered heavily during the prolonged war against terrorism as millions of them continued to remain in camps just to serve a national cause. He regretted that the federal government wasn’t interested in ensuring the early rehabilitation of displaced tribesmen.

The ANP leader urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to accept the Fata people’s call for merging their region with KP to remove unrest among them. He warned the tribal people would agitate if Fata-KP merger didn’t happen without delay.

“We will besiege parliament house to force the government into accepting our demands,” he warned asking political parties to show unity in their ranks.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017