PESHAWA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said his government has a categorical stance on the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the plan approved by the federal government for the merger would complicate the situation.
“Pakistan was not created in phases. Did the merger of other princely states take place in phases?” he said while talking to a delegation of senators and MNAs and other elders of tribal areas at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, said an official handout.
The delegation included MNAs Nasir Khan, Al-Haj Shahji Gul, Gulab Jamal Khan, Bismillah, Senator Momeen Khan and others. The chief minister said he would accept the total merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which, he added, was the best available option in the given circumstances.
“The province would provide share for the developmental strategy but the power would be exercised by the agent of federation. If the governor would call the shots even after the merger, there was a danger that two governments would run parallel. How is it possible?” he added.
The secretariat of the province has the capacity to take care of both the areas, he added. The chief minister reminded that he had raised serious reservations over the federal cabinet’s decision for the phased devolution, adding that it would start a new tug-of-war for power. The KP government wants to strengthen the collective voice of the people of the tribal areas, he said.
“Both Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not afford new experimentation. It should not be taken as a pilot project. We have a clear stance that a decision on the merger should reflect the aspirations of the people of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total merger is the best solution,” he added.
The chief minister called upon the elected representatives to make own decisions for their future. They should see the provincial government recommendations and develop a consensus after that we would move within the constitution to get our rights, he added.
