Workshop on Fata reforms concluded at JMC

  Ashrafuddin Pirzada

KHYBER AGENCY: To highlight the merits and demerits of the reforms among the general public a three days workshop themed “FATA reforms: Past and present” concluded in Agha Khan Auditorium hall in University of Peshawar on Thursday.

  The workshop organized by Internews Pakistan under the auspices of Journalism and Mass Communication Department University of Peshawar, addressed by prominent leaders and scholars.

The speakers on the occasions said that people Fata were intentionally kept deprived and away from socialization for more than hundred years and during British regime and by their successors.

The speakers termed FCR as draconian and a law of jungle which its example could not be found in the other world.   

In his sparkling address the prominent lawyer, expert on constitution and senior Awami National Party(ANP) central leader, Abdul Latif Khan Afridi, said that the reforms were insufficient for the prosperity and development in Fata, but he termed it would be a window for a progressive and social Fata. Hoever, he said that it was a faraway dream for the tribal people to enjoy political, social and right to expression in Fata, he says. The British rulers first imposed the draconian regulations in that time N.W.F.P on 1872 which was gradually over lift with the efforts of public and political parities leader from the rest of recent KPP but Fata is grinding under this cruel regulation.

Latif Afridi said that British rulers had introduced FCR to control the tribal people but they were failed. He rejected the single change with the argument that with the imposition of political party act the tribal people would not over the enormous problems they are facing as “Qabail” (tribal). He said that now tribal system (Qabailiat) is the black dot on the white cloths and should be remove it with the healthy activities of development, socialization and Fata people should be consider as full citizens of Pakistan.   

  Latif Afridi said that FCR was misused more than one hundred year by both the British rulers and Pakistani authorities for their selfish and vested interests because it was made only and only as a tool of control the Pashtuns and nothing else.

 Former ambassador to Afghanistan and senior analyst, Rustam Shah Mohmand, said that maximum infrastructure in the tribal areas had been destroyed in the last ten years of militancy which could not be redressed with the help of political party act sort of modifications.

“It has no means for the aggrieved families of the 40,000 people who have lost or injured their near and dears after 9/11 incident which have made them vulnerable subjects in their societies”, Shah suggested.

 Urging the concern authorities and the former ambassador said that Fata was full of minerals and other natural resources and would be given mega projects, industries along with quality education and skill trainings so that someone could say yes that Fata has been put on the right track.

 Rustam Shah Mohmand said that tribal people are living in a state of war which needs protection and peace not the so-called political party act in such circumstances.

Dr Sarfaraz Khan, director Area study center at University of Peshawar made responsible the Fata parliamentarians as they have no say in any legislation but only being used as tool by the big political parties to topple any regime in the past. He termed the reforms as drama with the Fata inhabitants  said that tribals have not been considered as complete citizens which legally not enjoying basic rights as compare with the other citizens in Pakistan

 Justice (R) Mian Ajmal, who was heading the reforms committee, says that 92% recommendations made by the committee are signed by President Asif Ali Zardari. He said that it would not give guarantee to all the basic human rights. He pointed out that with the imposition of the civil powers regulations the effects of the reforms have gone behind the picture which would have no visibility on the life of a lay man in Fata.  The tribal people appreciated and welcomed the reforms but also on the other hand leaders and politically rich dignities in Fata have rejected the “Action in aid of civil power regulations 2011” categorically.