PESHAWAR, June 5: Speakers at an interactive session urged the international community to link financial assistance for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with the pace of reforms there.

The event was organised by the Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme, a local NGO, at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday to discuss various aspects of the legal, political and economic reforms in Fata. The function was attended by leaders of various political parties, legal experts and retired government officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Awami National Party provincial chief Afrasyab Khattak said the tribal region needed drastic reforms, including permission for all political parties to start their activities there. He claimed that the area could not see rapid progress unless political activities were allowed there.

Mr Khattak urged the international community to put pressure on the government to introduce reforms in the tribal region. He said during the Afghan conflict the area was used as a launching pad for destabilising Afghanistan.

He was of the view that the situation could be improved in the area only if foreign interference in Afghanistan was stopped, administrative reforms were introduced and influence of tribal Maliks and powers of political agents curtailed.

Commenting on government claims about introducing certain reforms in Fata, Mr Khattak said that as a first step the government should allow political parties to start work at the gross-roots level.

In the second phase, civil society organisations should be activated and strengthened in the area so that the people there could be informed of their basic rights, enabling them to have a very clear concept of the importance of social development.