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WEEKLY
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| Autonomous status sought for tribal areas |
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Bureau report
PESHAWAR: Tribal elders and intellectuals have demanded an autonomous status for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on the pattern of Gilgit-Baltistan to be administered through an elected and independent Fata Council.
The demand was made from the platform of the Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), which organised a one-day consultative workshop for tribal elders, intellectuals, legal experts, NGOs’ representatives and journalists.
Chief Executive of the CAMP, Naveed Ahmad Shinwari, told a news conference that the consultation workshop was held in perspective of amendments proposed in the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and administrative system for tribal areas. The participants suggested various recommendations for introducing legal, political and administrative reforms in the existing law and system in the tribal belt of Pakistan, he added.
He said that instead of extending the Political Parties Act to the tribal areas, the workshop participants argued that the federal government should first constitute an independent and elected Fata Council. He said the development funds including international fund meant for tribal people should be utilised through the proposed Fata Council where representatives from each tribal agency will be elected on adult franchise.
The tribal elders suggested that Fata Tribunal should comprise legal experts who have strong roots and constant interaction with tribesmen living in the tribal belt. The appointment of judges for the Fata Tribunal should be made on the pattern of Supreme Court and high courts, he added.
Naveed Shinwari said the workshop participants felt political activities were need of the hour in order to promote political awareness and end hegemony of religious groups in the tribal areas. However, they wanted the Political Parties Act to be implemented phase-wise so that the political parties could establish their organisational structures in the tribal areas.
The workshop participants also demanded extension of Pemra Ordinance to Fata where private electronic and print media could be established. However, they said restoration of peace should be top most priority of the government.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
