GHALANAI: The Fata Political Alliance (FPA) has welcomed the federal government’s decision about merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and demanded holding of local bodies’ polls in the tribal belt before the 2018 general elections.

Addressing a press conference at Mohmand Press Club here on Tuesday, FPA president Sardar Khan said Fata should be included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. He said thousands of schools, health centres and houses were demolished and tribesmen were displaced from their native towns during the war on terror. He demanded of the federal government to allocate Rs100 million for reconstruction of infrastructure on emergency basis.

He said the FCR had pushed tribesmen into darkness and now was the time to do away with the code and give the tribesmen representation in the KP assembly. FPA general secretary Iqbal Afridi, Mohmand Seyasi Ittehad president Mohammad Saeed Khan, general secretary Sajid Khan Mohmand, PML-N Mohmand president Haji Zar Khan Safi and leaders of other political parties and students also spoke on the occasion.

Sardar Khan said unlimited powers of political agents should be withdrawn and a proper system of check and balance should be put in place to ensure good governance in the region. He said the federal government had taken the decision after the FPA launched a forceful campaign in this regard. Mohammad Saeed said as the people of Fata had suffered great hardships and given sacrifices for protection of Pakistan they should be brought to the national mainstream as a reward. “FCR is the root cause of all evils in the tribal region, which needs to be abolished,” he added.

PPP Fata spokesman Jangriz Khan Mohmand said if the federal government was sincere it should completely abolish the FCR.

Shah Sawar Khan Mohmand, a university student, said the federal government’s decision was a result of tireless efforts of political parties, students, civil society, journalists and lawyers. He said that bringing reforms was a steady process and that the tribal people should demonstrate patience.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2017