KHAR: Leaders of different political parties and a youth jirga in Bajaur tribal district on Monday expressed concern over delay in materialising the Fata-KP merger plan.

They were speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of office-bearers of Bajaur Youth Jirga, which is struggling for Fata-KP integration.

A number of youth leaders from various tribal districts were also in attendance.

The speakers showed their dismay over the unnecessary delay in implementation of the merger plan.

According to the Fata reforms bill, the speakers said Fata was to be merged with KP with immediate effect in order to extend the country’s regular laws to the tribal areas. However, they said no concrete measures were taken to materialise the plan except replacing political agents with deputy commissioners since the approval of Fata reforms bill in May 2018.

They lashed out at the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments for not taking steps to accomplish the plan, saying the unnecessary delay in implementation of the plan showed that PTI leaderships was not interested in bringing positive changes in the tribal districts.

They pointed out that all but some powerful elements were trying to disrupt the merger plan for their personal interests.

However, they vowed not to let anyone derail the process.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018