PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-i-Islami’s Fata chapter has warned it will move the Supreme Court if the Senate further delays the passage of a bill on Fata reforms.

JI Fata chief Sardar Khan told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the delay in the Fata’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would further increase the sense of deprivation among the people of tribal areas.

He condemned the ‘use of money’ in the recent Senate elections and demanded the cancellation of the exercise held for the election of Fata Senators.

Mr Sardar said those who purchased votes would serve own interests and recover the money they spent on their election during their stint as parliamentarians.

Calls for tribal region’s early merger with KP

He called for bringing the changes in procedure of Senate elections to end the horse-trading.

The JI leader said tribesmen had been denied all fundamental rights due to the imposition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation as no health, education and clean drinking water facilities were available to the people of Fata.

Accompanied by JI Fata general secretary Mohammad Rafiq Afridi, deputy secretary general Mohammad Hassan Shinwari and tribal youth leader Farmanullah, Mr Sardar said the roads had been destroyed in different Fata areas during the prolonged period of militancy but the federal government had yet not taken concrete steps for their repairs or reconstruction.

He urged the government not to further delay the approval of Fata reforms bill in the Senate and ensure the early merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to mitigate the sufferings of tribal people.

The JI leader said another bill regarding extension of jurisdictions of the Peshawar High Court to Fata had been pending the Senate’s approval since its approval by the federal cabinet and the National Assembly.

He demanded that the Senate approve the bill to provide Fata people with access to the court of law.

Mr Sardar said the Pakistan People’s Party was trying to take the credit for Fata reforms and therefore, it should make efforts for the early passage of the bill on the matter in the Senate.

He demanded that the Fata people be given representation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the upcoming general elections to help them effectively raise voice for their rights.

The JI leader asked the government to announce an education emergency in tribal regions and run schools in rented buildings until the reconstruction of the buildings in ruin.

He also called for a comprehensive package of Rs1000 billion for Fata rehabilitation and reconstruction and said the government should fulfil its prime responsibility of providing the people with clean drinking water and other basic amenities.

Mr Sardar demanded an increase in Fata’s share in the National Finance Commission Award for the region’s development and also said Fata should be declared tax-free zone for the next 50 years.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2018