PESHAWAR: A constitutional writ petition has been filed in Peshawar High Court for the fulfillment of promises regarding allocation of Rs100 billion for the development of tribal districts and giving three per cent share to them under National Finance Commission award.

The writ petition was filed by vice-chairman of Tehreek-i-Islahat Pakistan Party Malik Habeeb Noor Orakzai on the advice of party chairman Shahjee Gul Afridi.

The petitioner has requested the PHC through Advocate Muazam Butt to direct the federal and all provincial governments to provide Rs100 billion for the development of tribal districts and give three per cent share to them under NFC award in the light of the decision of federal cabinet and directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The petitioner says that since 1979 the former tribal areas faced war-like situation, which resulted in human losses and destruction of infrastructure. The situation there also made the implementation of the law of the land very difficult due to which the pace of development remained very slow, he adds.

He states that countless number of terrorist acts had occurred there which displaced thousands of tribal families from their homes and ruined the educational environment. The situation also took its toll on the employment opportunities in the region, he adds. The petitioner says that despite suffering huge human and property losses, the tribal people never compromised on the integrity of the country.

He says now it is incumbent upon the federal and all provincial governments to take into account the sufferings of the tribal people and make efforts to bring the merged areas on par with the developed parts of the country. This would benefit the entire country, he adds.

The petition stated that by utilising the natural resources of the merged areas, the entire country would prosper and become rich. It says that social justice and equal treatment are basic right of the people of the merged districts. Living a life with peace and dignity is also the basic right of the people, it adds.

The petitioner prayed the court that in the light of the Constitution of Pakistan, the federal and all provincial governments should be directed to allocate Rs100 billion annually and three per cent share in NFC award for the rehabilitation and development of the merged areas.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021