ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: Around 250 journalists work in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) and 12 have been killed in the area, after 9/11. This was stated by participants at a public discussion on “Reporting in Fata under FCR” organised by a non government international organisation (NGO) Friedric-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The event was a tribute to journalists working in Fata.

Presidential spokesman and PPP veteran leader Senator Farhatullah Babar said that Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) was introduced in Fata over one hundred years ago but could not be reformed, despite many efforts.

“Two years back, the government of PPP decided to take all the stakeholders on board and after reaching a consensus, announced reforms for the tribal areas. Now anyone can go to Fata and participate in political activities in the area,” he assured.

Advisor to the President of Pakistan for Tribal Areas, Mirza Jihadi said that because of legislation, public meetings and protests can now be held in Fata.

“60 per cent of the world has been focusing on Fata because of the war on terror but still it is underdeveloped. People are becoming terrorists because of FCR. According to the rules of FCR, if a tribal person commits a crime in an urban area, action can be taken against his tribe or vice versa. We should have the same law all over the country,” said Mr Jihadi.

PPP MNA from Bajaur Agency, Akhunzada Chattan said that even in the federal capital, journalists have been murdered, so one can image how bad the situation is in Fata.

“I have always spoken for the freedom of the press,” Mr Akhunzada claimed and then gave an example, “When army officials started using Bajaur Press Club as their residence, I spoke against it.”

“We cannot solve the issues of women in Fata, therefore reserved seats for tribal areas should be introduced in the National Assembly,” he said.

Brigadier (retired) Qayyum Sher said that issues of tribal areas cannot be resolved until FCR is not suspended. He said that FCR can only be suspended by declaring Fata a province or merging it with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai said that it was strange that there are eight senators of Fata in the senate and 12 representatives in the National Assembly but still they could not play an active role in resolving the issues of Fata.

President Tribal Union of Journalists Safdar Hayat Dawar, who received FES ‘Human Rights Award 2012’ said: “Journalists of Fata have been putting their lives in danger and its time that they be given the recognition.”

Resident Director FES Philipp Kauppert said that more than 3 million people have been living in the tribal areas and many face unemployment, poverty and other problems.

“Foreign journalists cannot enter the area without seeking protection of the army.

Local journalists feel isolated in their struggle, so their services should be appreciated,” he said.