LANDI KOTAL: The Fata Siyasi Ittehad (FSI) will launch a three-day sit-in in Peshawar from Feb 16 to press their demand for total repeal of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and winning basic constitutional rights for the Fata people.

Addressing a press conference at Jamrud Press Club on Wednesday, FSE president Iqbal Afridi said thousands of activists of various political parties would participate in the protest sit-in.

Mr Afridi lamented that the oppressive regulations had kept the people of Fata backward and denied them all their basic human rights. “The existing system has persistently barred our parliamentarians from raising voice for winning rights for the deprived people of Fata, which kept the region backward,” he said.

Iqbal Afridi said that over a decade-long militancy and terrorism had adversely impeded the development of tribal areas and local residents had little or no access to quality education and health facilities.

“A complete repeal of FCR and implementation of country’s regular laws would ensure better governance alongside guaranteeing basic rights to the people of Fata,” Mr Afridi opined.

He said invitations had been sent to all the stakeholders to ensure their participation in the Feb 16 protest sit-in.

POWER METERS: The Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company and the Khyber Agency political administration held talks with the Landi Kotal Bazaar Traders Association the other day over installation of electricity meters at shops and business centres.

The relevant officials told Dawn that the Tesco and political administration officials assured traders that electric supply to few shops would be restored in case of agreement on installation of power meters.

Around one and a half months ago, the local grid station in Landi Kotal had disconnected power supply to the bazaar when shopkeepers refused to allow Tesco workers to install meters.

The shopkeepers had asked the Tesco officials to ensure end to the excessive loadshedding.

During the Tuesday meeting, president of the association Lal Rahim told Tesco officials that they still wanted scheduled loadshedding instead of suspension of electricity for long hours and that, too, without schedule.

He said the excessive loadshedding had caused acute water shortage forcing the people to buy water at an exorbitant rate.

Lal Rahim sought three days for consultation with his colleagues on the matter.

Tesco official Ikramullah told him that a separate feeder would be installed in the bazaar besides removing all old and rusted metal wires. He said the installation of electricity meters would be completed within a week and those opposed to it won’t be forced into installing meters at their shops.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016