KHAR: The pro-FCR tribal elders in Bajaur Agency have announced to support JUI-F for its stand on future of Fata and vowed to participate in its planned gathering in Peshawar on October 14.

Addressing a jirga, they said that majority of tribal people, especially elders and religious scholars, wanted Fata to become a separate province. The jirga was attended by a large number of elders from different tribes and areas.

Malik Mohammad Akbar, Malik Abdul Nasar Khan, Malik Haibiullah, Mian Masood Jan, Malik Umar Waheed, Malik Hifizur Rahman, Mujahid Khan and JUI-F emir Malana Abdur Rasheed addressed the jirga.

They welcomed the scheduled tribal youth conference of JUI-F Fata chapter in Peshawar to demand status of separate province for Fata. They claimed that majority tribal people were in favour of status of separate province for Fata.

The speakers said that they would never allow the government to merge Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it would create numerous problems for tribal people.

They said that tribal elders would support JUI-F to demand status of separate province for Fata. They criticised the leaders of different political parties for making efforts to merge Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The speakers claimed that workers of political parties would never succeed in their mission to merge Fata with KP despite organising protests and rallies. They said that the recent sit-in in Islamabad against FCR by workers of political parties was a flop show.

They lauded JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his stance about Fata. They said that hundreds of tribal elders and their family members would participate in the JUI-F’s gathering in Peshawar to make the event a success.

They said that tribal elders, their family members and relatives would leave for Peshawar on Saturday at 8am to attend the conference.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2017