LANDI KOTAL, Dec 27: Parliamentarians from the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas have warned that any reforms package introduced in Fata would not be acceptable unless tribesmen's openion were taken into account.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Senator Hamidullah Afridi expressed his displeasure over formation of several committees assigned with the task to bring about changes in the tribal administrative set up.

He insisted that most members of the committees were not tribesmen and had little knowledge of tribal customs and traditions, and cautioned of a serious backlash if reforms evolved in "drawing rooms" were imposed on them.

Senator Afridi also expressed concern for not including Fata parliamentarians in a National Assembly privilege committee which was formed by the Speaker to ascertain charges made by a Fata MNA against the political administration of Bajaur Agency.

The parliamentary leader of Fata parliamentarians in the National Assembly, Munir Orakzai, demanded that educated, retired tribal civil servants and elders who were permanently residing in tribal areas should be included in reforms committees.

He said that so far only a handful of self-proclaimed champions of Fata rights have recommended reforms in the Frontier Crimes Regulations and the administrative system prevalent in tribal areas.

He alleged that they people were not the real representatives of tribesmen and had in fact not even lived in tribal areas thus having little knowledge of the customs and traditions and the social changes so far brought about in the tribal society.

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