PESHAWAR, Feb 21: The federal government has decided to reserve 23 per cent seats for tribal Maliks and 10 per cent seats for women in the future local councils in Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Speaking at a seminar entitled “Political Reforms in Fata” arranged by the Aurat Foundation here on Thursday, the former MNA from Fata, Abdul Lateef Afridi, claimed that if the women did not contest in the future local government polls in tribal areas then the government had decided to fill the seats reserved for women through nomination.

Elaborating various decisions taken during a high level meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Jan 22, he said the 23 per cent seats reserved for Maliks would also be filled through nominations. He was of the view that when women could fetch water and firewood from far-flung areas and perform other hard works outside their homes then why they could not participate in the political process in tribal areas.

Quoting from an official document about decisions taken in the said meeting, Mr Afridi said that the president was hoodwinked by the quarters concerned as far as certain amendments to the century-old Frontier Crimes Regulations was concerned. He said tribal people wanted drastic amendment to the Section 40 of the FCR dealing with collective responsibility of a tribe under which even an “innocent” tribesman could be detained for three years by the administration.

However, he said, the government had decided to reduce that prison term to one year from three years. He asserted that the principle of collective responsibility was an infamous reminder of the colonial era, which should be done away with.

The seminar was also addressed by a member of the official committee on Fata Reforms, Dr Mumtaz Bangash, leader of tribal political movement Asad Afridi, tribal leader from Frontier regions Khaista Rehman Khan, leader from Bajaur Shehzada Khan, Malik Muhammad Ali from Mohmand Agency, Nurat Khan Afridi from Khyber Agency and others.

Almost all speakers supported Fata reforms, saying if properly implemented the century-old infamous institution of Political Agent would crumble down.

“Under the local government system decided for Fata, the nomenclature of Political Agent will become Agency Coordinating Officer and most of his powers will be assigned to Nazims of the agency, sub-divisional, tehsil and union councils,” Mr Afridi said.