JI stages sit-in outside Governor’s House

Demands Fata merger with KP

PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday staged a sit-in outside the Governor’s House to press the federal government to abolish the Frontier Crimes Regulations and merge Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A large number of JI leaders including provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad, Abdul Wasi and others participated in the sit-in. Huge banners were also displayed in various parts of the city, demanding merger of Fata with the province and abolition of the FCR.

The JI provincial chief, while addressing the participants, said that the people of the tribal areas have rendered sacrifices for the country but they were never given their due rights. “The government should immediately abolish the black law of FCR and merge the tribal areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Khan.

Other speakers also asked the government not to delay the mainstreaming of Fata as the people have suffered for decades. They said that people of Fata must be given due rights, additional funds to bring them on a par with other parts of the country, and the right to elect their representatives for the provincial assembly and local bodies. The Mufti Mehmood Flyover was closed to traffic during the protest that created problems for the travellers and commuters. The motorists had to take longer routes to reach destinations.