Imran moves SC for merger of Fata with KP

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday requested the Supreme Court to order merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
Imran Khan filed the petition through his counsel Dr Babar Awan under Article 184(3) of the Constitution for the enforcement of fundamental rights in Fata. He has made President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Federation of Pakistan through secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, secretary Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) and incharge Fata Secretariat Peshawar as respondents.
The PTI chief contended that the Constitution in its preamble dictates to observe the principles of democracy, freedom of equality and social justice and also all rights of territories of the Federation including the areas of Fata. He submitted that in terms of Article 4 of the Constitution, it is the fundamental right of the people of Fata to enjoy equal protection of law and to be treated in accordance with the law as an integral part of the Federation. The petitioner said that the President of Pakistan in consultation with the government of KP being a stakeholder and also relevant authorities made a Fata reforms package which was announced by the respondents unequivocally on national forums and media. The PTI chief stated that the government of KP fulfilled its constitutional requirement and consented to forthwith include areas of Fata into KP and for this purpose all arrangements have been made and decision taken by the KP government already including resolution No 848 adopted by the provincial assembly. But to the utter surprise, the PTI chairman contended that the respondents backed down from merging Fata with KP due to some political reasons and violating its constitutional commitment. He said that the entire exercise is complete for enforcement of rights of the Fata people, however, respondents are delaying the same on one pretext or the other. Imran prayed the court to that of Fata be ordered to be merged with KP in the interest of justice, saying the people of Fata would be grateful if such orders for the enforcement of fundamental rights of the people were passed.