JUI-F leaders reaffirm efforts for provincial status for Fata

BARA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leaders on Thursday vowed to continue efforts for a province status for the federally administered tribal areas (Fata).

Speaking at a public gathering at a Dastarbani ceremony of a madrassa in Bara tehsil, JUI-F general secretary for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shujaul Mulk said that the members of the National Assembly from Fata were "deaf and dumb."

JUI-F Fata head Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Senator Attaur Rahman, general secretary for Fata Mufti Ijaz Shinwari and general sectary for Khyber Agency Maulana Shamsuddin and others were present on the occasion.

Shajaul Mulk said that crises had been created in Pakhtun-dominated areas under a conspiracy over the last 40 years. "First, the political parties had supported to establish Fata as a separate province," he stated, adding that now the parties wanted to merge Fata into KP to appease the US. Shajaul Mulk claimed that most of tribal people had opposed Fata merger into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, adding that the tribesmen had always fought for the sake of the country. "PTI is spreading vulgarity in the county while the province is facing financial crunch," he maintained.

Criticising MNA from Khyber Agency Shah Jee Gul Afridi, he said that the legislator had cheated the tribal people in the name of the Fata reforms. Senator Attaur Rahman, JUI Fata head Mufti Abdul Shahkoor, Mufti Ijaz, Shamsur Rahman and others also spoke in the event. Later, 570 madrassa students and teachers were awarded certificates at the dastarbandi event.