KHAR: Fata Students Forum Pakistan (FSFP) on Wednesday criticised the Fata lawmakers and political activists for abruptly ending the recent sit-in and rally in Islamabad against the delay in implementation Fata reforms without achieving the goals of merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and abolition of FCR.

“We strongly condemn organisers of the rally held in Islamabad on Oct 9 against the delay in Fata reforms, especially the lawmakers from Khyber Agency Shah Jee Gul Afridi and Shahabuddin Khan, for ending the gathering without achieving the goal of merger,” said Rehan Zeb, central chairman of FSFP, while speaking to mediapersons here.

He said that the lawmakers had disappointed the students of the entire tribal agency, especially those associated with his organisation. He said that they did not expect from a group of Fata lawmakers to end the rally after what he called a typical assurance from the prime minister.

Flanked by other FSFP leader Gauhar Ali, Mr Zeb said that the students had never thought that the organisers would end the demo abruptly, but they were optimistic that it would bear fruit.

He claimed that FSFP had played a key role in arranging the rally in Islamabad, but unfortunately the lawmakers failed to convince the government on securing the rights of the tribal people.

The student leaders announced that after fruitless end of the rally the tribal students would never attend any gathering and demo led by the same people in future. They said that they were convinced that the Fata lawmakers and local leaders of political parties had no interest in welfare of the tribal people. However, the students vowed to continue their struggle for early implementation of the Fata reforms.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2017