LANDI KOTAL: The pro-administration tribal elders have expressed reservations about the recent constitutional amendment for the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and said the legislation went against the pledges made by the army chief and KP governor.

They complained about the merger to sector commander of Bara Brig Arshad Taufeeq and Khyber Agency political agent Islam Zeb during a visit to the De-radicalisation Centre in Bara on Thursday.

The elders were accompanied by local traders and youths during the visit organised on the instructions of the Frontier Corps inspector general. They later attended an Iftar dinner.

Complain they’re not consulted despite promises by army chief, governor

The political agent told visitors that the local riwaj (customs and traditions) would be fully protected, while the jirga system would stay put after the Fata-KP merger.

“The process of Fata reforms will move forward in line with the aspirations of the people of tribal areas,” he said.

However, Kukikhel elder Malik Salahuddin complained that the tribal elders were not taken into confidence on the merger issue.

He expressed serious reservations about the 31st Constitutional Amendment on the Fata-KP merger and said the government didn’t consult the people of tribal areas before legislating on it despite the assurances of the Pakistan Army’s chief and KP governor about it.

The elder said the tribal culture was trampled on the advice of non-tribal people, who knew nothing or little about the local administrative affairs and customs.

“We (tribesmen) will never accept this cruel and one-sided Constitutional Amendment,” he said.

Colonel Zubair of the FC told elders that security forces had killed 18,000 militants, injured 6,000 and held 29,000 during different major and minor operations in the region since 2007.

He said 3,000 militants had so far surrendered and handed over a large quantity of arms and ammunition to security forces.

“The success of military operations can be gauged from the fact that 3.5 million internally displaced persons have so far returned, while large-scale reconstruction activities are under way in different parts of tribal areas,” he said.

Earlier, a group of tribal elders, students, traders and civil society members visited the Swat Scouts premises in Warsak.

The officials informed them about development schemes carried out under the FC’s supervision and steps taken by the security forces for peace.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2018