BAJAUR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leaders and elders of merged districts here on Wednesday reiterated their stand to reject the 25th Constitution Amendment, which had ended the separate status of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas and merged it with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, and demanded reversal of the merger.

They were speaking during a daylong jirga on “the rights of tribal areas”, which was organised by JUI-F local chapter here in Khar. The meeting was convened to adopt a joint plan for restoration of the previous separate status of erstwhile Fata.

JUI-F tribal districts chief MNA Mufti Abdul Shakoor, former senator Saleh Shah, former federal minister Hameedullah Jan, former senator and JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Malik Saeed Anwar Mehsud, Maulana Faizur Rahman Orakazi, Malik Bahadar Shah and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers criticised the previous PML-N federal government for what they called ‘forcible’ merger of former Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the 25th Amendment.

They described the merger as against the wishes of majority of the people and unlawful. They alleged that the previous government had violated the country’s Constitution by ending the separate status of former Fata. They claimed the merger was an attempt to deprive the people of tribal districts from their natural resources.

MNA Mufti Shakoor said his party would never accept the merger of tribal districts with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He lashed out at both the federal and provincial governments for their failure to bring any visible change in the lives of the people.

The speakers said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government should allocate the three per cent share in the NFC award and provide Rs100 billion annually to the tribal districts.

They also demanded the government to immediately stop construction of police stations in tribal districts, saying police system was against the local culture and traditions.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2021