‘Fata Reforms Committee ignores real stakeholders’

PESHAWAR: The Fata Political Alliance has alleged the real stakeholders were ignored during Fata Reforms Committee’s recent visit and announced to stage a protest during the upcoming visit of members of the body to the Khyber Agency.

Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, president of Fata Political Alliance, vowed to continue struggle for administrative and judicial reforms and the repeal of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). He termed the FCR as the mother of all ills, which was imposed on tribesmen by the British rulers.

Zarnoor Afridi of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Nisar Mohmand of Awami National Party (ANP), Jehanraiz Khan of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mustafa Mohmand of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Ejaz Afridi of National Party, Rahim Shah of the Fata Lawyers Forum were also present during the press conference.

The alliance chief said the FCR was contrary to the charters of human rights and Constitution. He called for immediate abolition of the FCR and merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the alliance was working for the restoration of a durable peace in Fata, abolition of the FCR, merger of the region with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the alliance also seeks Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) status for the tribal belt.