ISLAMABAD: Residents of the tribal areas, who were demanding that the polls. for the provincial assembly should be held in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) during the general elections, on Monday tried to hold a sit-in in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) but were not allowed to by the Islamabad administration and police.

The protesters then held a sit-in in front of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and chanted slogans for their rights.

They were later informed that the ECP had rejected their application after which they decided to protest in front of the National Press Club (NPC) again.

Residents of the tribal areas have been demanding that the general elections for the provincial assembly be held in Fata on July 25 and have been holding sit-ins for the last week.

On Sunday, they announced that they will protest in front of the ECP the next day.

They were stopped by the district administration from doing so on Monday and they decided to protest in front of Nadra instead.

Muttahida Qabail Party (MQP) Vice Chairman Habib Noor Orakzai told Dawn they did not want agitation which is why they moved the protest.

“We will file a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to get justice,” he said.

Residents of the tribal areas have been told the general elections for the provincial assembly will be held after a year in their areas.

Mr Orakzai said that though the people of Fata managed to pass the 31st Amendment after a long struggle, it would seem that some elements are still not in favour of allowing the people of Fata to elect their representatives.

He said the people of tribal areas feared the election may not be held in Fata at all. He said a petition will be filed in IHC in a few days in this regard.

“MQP is the first political party of the tribal area but it will continue its efforts for the rights of the people of Fata,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2018