Extension of superior judiciary to Fata to ensure fair trial

PESHSAWAR: Speakers at a seminar have hoped the extension of jurisdiction of superior courts to tribal areas will help provide fair trial opportunity to the tribespeople.

This would not only ensure right of tribespeople to cheap and speedy justice but also bolster its people confidence in the reforms process, said the participants of an event held at Iqra University in Islamabad.

Titled, ‘Extension of Higher Judiciary to Fata: What next?,’ they discussed at length the progress on the Fata reforms process after its passage from the National Assembly on January 12 last.

Parliamentarians from tribal areas, academia, legal and political experts, analysts, students and a large number of members of civil society attended the seminar.

Senator Hidayatullah Khan from Bajaur Agency said the tribespeople were the citizens of the country and there should be a uniform law for all the citizens.

He said Fata suffered huge losses and its people faced ultimate displacement and destruction. “They are forced to live in camps but never complained and faced all the odds for the motherland happily,” he added.

He advised against testing of patience of the tribespeople further and demanded implementation of recommendations of the Fata Reforms Committee without any delay.

Kamran Arif, a legal expert and former vice-chairman of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), appreciated the superior courts extension to Fata, adding it would help bring the tribal areas into national mainstream. However, he pointed out, it was not enough to serve the motive alone.

“The government should allocate ample resources to transform the dream of mainstreaming of Fata into reality,” he added.

Dr Shehryar Khan said election for provincial assembly seats should also be organised in Fata in the upcoming general elections. “Elected representatives are people’s representatives. By holding the election the initiative would get a public ownership which is necessary for success of the process,” he argued.

Dr Ashraf Ali said the extension of courts’ jurisdiction opened a new window of opportunity for introducing more reforms. “It would give the tribespeople a right to go into appeal and get justice from the higher courts,” he added.

A tribal elder from Kurram, Malik Ibrar Hussain said the extension of jurisdiction of superior judiciary to Fata was a landmark achievement.