Tribal elders oppose Fata’s merger into KP

PESHAWAR: Tribal elders at a jirga held here at Nishtar Hall opposed the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into KP and asked for their due share in the benefits related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Speaking at the jirga, the elders from all tribal regions declared that they wanted a separate province and that the merger was out of question.

They said that both KP and Fata were under developed areas and should not be merged together. The elders maintained that powers of the political agents should be contained.

They also demanded the government to make arrangements for the displaced families of Fata to return to their hometowns. The tribal elders said that the federal government should take steps for the rehabilitation of the already returned tribesmen. They also demanded health and education facilities for the people of Fata. The elders said that the traders of Fata had suffered a lot during the militancy and military operations adding that they should be compensated.