PESHAWAR: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that only a political approach can resolve the ‘extraordinary’ situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces.

He was addressing as chief guest a symposium on merged districts here on Sunday. The event was organised by Advocacy for Sustainable Policy and Implementation Reforms Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mr Abbasi, who is convener of the newly-launched Awaam Pakistan Party, said that politicians, judiciary and establishment would have to sit together and find a solution to problems. He said the governance system failed and it would have to be changed otherwise issues would not be resolved.

“Our system is not according to the Constitution,” he said. Referring to Elections Act, 2024, and Supreme Court (practice and procedure) Amendment Ordinance, 2024, he said that the laws were against the Constitution and human rights.

Khaqan says situation in KP, Balochistan extraordinary; asks KP to raise merged districts’ reforms issue in Council of Common Interests

About reforms in merged district, Mr Abbasi said that he thought that the reforms would be implemented according to its report filed by late former minister for foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.

He said the federal government should provide to tribal districts three per cent promised funds from the federal divisible pool, which, according to the former prime minister, did not happen.

“Implement the report and fulfil the promises made with the people of merged district. If not, the ball is in KP’s court and it should raise the issue in Council of Common Interests,” he said. He added the establishment would have to ‘slightly’ step back.

The former prime minister said that all the political parties had agreed that provinces would give a share in funds to merged districts before the passage of 25th Amendment but now all were reluctant.

He said that the residents of merged districts were demanding respect, rights and a share in resources like people of other areas of the country.

The former prime minister feared that barricading roads to stop a political party from holding a public meeting would lead to bifurcation. “Elder brother needs to take care because younger brother has always accused him of depriving him of his rights,” he added.

He said that the changes in merged districts would have been made in different intervals with the passing of time and not at once. He added that changes made within 24 hours were yet to be enforced.

Former MNA from Kurram Sajid Turi said on the occasion that old chapters were closed and new chapters were opened. “Powers rest with the military and everyone is looking at the 11 Corps,” he said.

Former MNA Noorul Haq Qadri from Khyber tribal district said that the situation in Palestine was better than that in the merged districts as every family in former Fata had a long story to tell.

“This will be the result when you use force, from bombing children in Dama Dola to cattle in Miramshah. The situation is complicated and seriousness is required to resolve the issues,” he said.

Former MNA Maulana Saleh Shah from Waziristan said that Pashtuns were being fooled when they were called ‘Ghayyoor’. “I have said this multiple times that militancy is not ‘natural’ but ‘federal’ and the reforms were part of western policy,” he said. He added that the reforms under merger were like poison in jiggery.

Ghazi Ghulab Jamal, former lawmaker from Orakzai, said that there should have been an evolutionary method for bringing reforms rather than introducing them overnight.

Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from South Waziristan Asif Mehsud said that every step towards implementation of reforms in merged districts during last 6 years was a failure.

“Nobody is accepting public mandate neither is anyone hearing to voices of people. We cannot defend the state when we are in our constituencies,” he said. He added that nobody feared guns anymore.

He demanded opening of trade routes with Afghanistan, the only means of living for tribesmen for centuries.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024