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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
News Desk
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said European countries should play their role to end the US missile strikes in Pakistan.
He was speaking to European diplomats at a dinner here on Tuesday. The president said Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism. “We will not allow anyone to use our soil for terrorist acts against any country,” he said, adding, Pakistan has strongly condemned the Mumbai terror attacks.
President Zardari said that the government was investigating the information provided by India with regard to the Mumbai attacks. The findings of the probe will also be shared with the international community, he added.
Our correspondent adds: In a bid to eradicate extremism from Fata and bring the area into mainstream, a 15-point reform package on three broad themes — defining Fata, democratisation in Fata and development — has been drafted and forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari for his consideration.
Sources said the government has given a task to the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation to formulate recommendations for eliminating extremism from Fata and resolving problems facing the tribal people.
Sources said Shaheed Bhutto Foundation in collaboration with Benazir Democracy Institute arranged three roundtable workshops in south, north and central regions that were attended by tribal elders, parliamentarians, lawyers, education experts, media persons, intellectuals, political leaders and serving and retired military officials.
The report suggested that the jurisdiction of the Constitution of Pakistan should be extended to Fata, fundamental rights of the tribal people should be safeguarded and the Frontier Crimes Regulation should be replaced or heavily amended to bring it in line with the constitution and international norms of justice.
On judicial reforms, it was suggested that the traditional institution of jirga should be revived, respected and further strengthened through codification and legal protection. It proposed that elected agency councils should nominate members of the jirga court and should maintain lists of eligible members among whom the disputant parties would choose.
The report suggested that the disputant parties should have the right to either choose among Riwaj, Shariah, or civil laws as the basis for settlement of their disputes. It was also proposed that the jurisdiction of the Peshawar High Court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan should be extended to the tribal areas. Besides that, Fata courts should be established to serve as the court of first instance for the settlement of disputes on the basis of civil law and to act as an appellate court for jirga decisions. A special Fata bench of the Peshawar High Court would hear appeals from Fata courts and the Supreme Court would be available to settle questions of law and interpretation of the constitution.
On law and order, it was proposed that khasadars and levies should be made regular forces, provided with sufficient training and modern equipment and be paid handsomely and should be given responsibility for maintaining law and order in their respective areas.
Regarding devolution, the report suggested that the Local Government Ordinance should be extended to tribal areas with a two-tier structure of agency and tehsil councils, which will enjoy all development powers.
It was also proposed that until the final decision on the constitutional status of Fata, the people of tribal areas should be represented in the NWFP Assembly alongside their existing representation in the National Assembly and the Senate.
The report called for the creation of a Fata council with legislative powers and financial authority for the tribal areas. It said elections for the council on the basis of adult franchise should be conducted in a transparent manner. The elected agency and tehsil councils should be introduced to fill the governance vacuum at the local level and these elected bodies would prepare lists of jirga court members for resolution of disputes in accordance with the local customs.
The report also advocated the representation of women from Fata in the provincial and national assemblies and new elected councils. The same should also be guaranteed for religious minorities.
It was also proposed that the Political Parties Act should be extended to the tribal areas providing freedom of association to the people of Fata. Fata Secretariat, which is widely deemed unaccountable, must be made answerable to the elected representatives of Fata.
It was recommended that the powers vested in the office of the political agent be drastically curtailed to administrative matters with no role in judicial matters. On economic development, it was suggested that a comprehensive development package for the tribal areas should be introduced to generate employment opportunities.
The natural resources of Fata, such as marble, coal, granite and other minerals, should be utilised by developing local industries while the investment for the infrastructure like roads and electricity and the agriculture sector should be supported.
The report called for promotion of education on all levels in Fata with special emphasis on provision of vocational skills and training. It also called for provision of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities at the agency level.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
