JI-convened APC supports Fata as part of KP

ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Conference (APC) convened by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Monday declared full support to the proposed amendments to the Constitution that envisaged all constitutional rights to the people of Fata and bringing the area under the control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
The declaration, unanimously adopted by the leaders of all mainstream political parties, also called for extending the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court to the tribal areas.
JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq read out the declaration at end of daylong APC.Through the declaration, the political parties regretted that the people of tribal areas had decided to be part of Pakistan at the time of the Partition but they were still deprived of their constitutional rights and being governed by the laws framed by the British colonial rulers.
The declaration also called for immediate return of IDPs from North Waziristan to their homes before the winter season gets severe.“Honourable resettlement of IDPs at their native places requires allocation of Rs500 billion,” the declaration said.
Through the declaration, the political parties demanded a mega package for rehabilitation and relief of quake-hit people of Fata.The federal government was asked to review the compensation package for the quake-hit people.
They said the heirs of those who lost their lives should get Rs1 million each, the injured Rs0.5 million, Rs0.5 million fro a fully damaged and Rs2.5 lac for a partially damaged house.
Prominent among those who attended the APC included Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah, PML-N Secretary General Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, JUI-F leader Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, Aftab Khan Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party, Bushra Gohar of Awami National Party, Senator Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Akhunzada Chattan of Fata Political Alliance, Fata MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi and others.
Addressing the APC, Khursheed Shah and Sirajul Haq said only a solution agreed by the people of tribal area about their future would be acceptable to the political parties.
They said the political parties attending the APC had decided to extend full support to the 22nd amendment to the Constitution that protected the constitutional and basic rights of people of Fata.