PESHAWAR, Aug 16: The Pakistan Muslim League (Q) of Fata has demanded of the government to soften the condition of graduation for Fata’s candidates because the literacy rate was much less there than rest of the country.
Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club here on Friday, the former MNA and PML (Q) Fata’s chief Syed Munir said the graduation condition for the contestants would deprive many of the chance to run for elections, as the literacy rate in Fata was only six per cent.
He also expressed concern over the delay in the holding of local bodies polls in Fata, saying that the voter lists and delimitation of constituencies had already been completed for the LB election.
Flanked by his general secretary and former MNA, Haji Dilawar Khan, Syed Munir deplored that the government was in pursuit of a dual policy regarding Fata because it had yet to announce National Assembly seats for women and technocrats from the tribal area.
The government, he said, should announce these seats without wasting more time so that the women and technocrats of Fata could contest the coming polls. The seats for the National Assembly have been increased from one to two while those of Senate also needed to be enhanced from the existing eight seats, one each for eight tribal units.
The former MNA said the government was still unclear about the provincial assembly seats in Fata, asking the government to explain as to when these seats would be announced so that the people could start electioneering. The government, he said, should include the provincial assembly seats for Fata in the constitutional amendment package because the next parliament would not be willing to hold provincial assembly polls in Fata.
According to him, the general elections, especially in Fata, should be held on party basis in order to put brakes on the horse-trading.
He said the seats for all tribal units, except for Orakzai and Mohmand agencies, had been increased from one to two and asked the government to double the number of NA seats for the rest of the two tribal agencies to remove the prevalent unrest among the dwellers of these areas.
Meanwhile, the PML (Q) Fata has invited applications from those desiring to contest the general elections latest by Aug 20.