Jirga warns against change in Economic Corridor route

PESHAWAR: The Fata Ulasi Jirga has warned of change in the route of the Kashgar-Gwadar economic corridor and asked the federal government to announce work on the project as per original plan.
The jirga, convened at the Archives Hall here on Sunday, demanded the government to launch work on the economic corridor as per the original schemes.“The route passing through Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob and Quetta would not only bring backward areas on a par with the developed ones but also help eradicate the terrorism,” said thejirga members in a joint communiqué issued at the end of the jirga.
The tribal jirga representatives drawn from all the tribal regions and Frontier Regions (FRs) held consultative sessions. A questionnaire about the economic corridor and other matters related to the tribal belt was also got filled out.During the consultative sessions of different agencies, the tribesmen discussed the matters. One representative from each agency presented recommendations.
The joint communiqué at the end of the jirga arranged under the auspices of Pakhtunkhwa Ulasi Tehreek (PUT) pledged not to accept any change in the original and natural route of the Kashgar-Gwadar Economic Corridor. It asked the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to lay the foundation stone for the Havelian-Burhan route instead of the changed Havelian-Islamabad Motorway Section before March 22.
The members of the jirga warned the tribal people would be compelled to stage protest at the Benazir International Airport on the occasion of Chinese president visit if that was not done.“We will receive the Chinese president by holding China flag, welcome slogans and a map of the original and natural route of the economic corridor,” said the jirga members in the statement.
They said the original route passing through Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob and Quetta was the shortest and most feasible way besides benefiting the maximum backward areas of the country. It would also minimise the grievances of tribal people so far deprived from development thus lead to eradicating terrorism, they added.
The jirga members also demanded share for Fata in the financial assistance meant for eradication of terrorism. They said the donations received should be spent on the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The jirga demanded constitution of an independent commission for the survey of damage and destruction in Fata due to terrorism and payment of compensation to the affectees.A demand was made to increase the quota and scholarships for the tribal students in the educational institutions besides providing residential accommodation for Fata students.
The jirga demanded abolishing of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). A call was made for holding local government elections in Fata at the earliest so that the tribal people elect the representatives to execute uplift schemes in own areas.The jirga announced support to the six points agenda of Pakhtunkhwa Ulasi Tehreek and vowed to create awareness about the economic corridor and its effects on the tribal belt.