JI leader calls for scrapping FCR

BARA: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) provincial president, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, has said that the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) is a draconian law imposed by the British to suppress the tribal population which must be scrapped forthwith.

Speaking at 'Grand Youth Convention' of JI in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Sunday, he said it was strange that even seven decades after independence an oppressive law continued to be followed which was a negation of the rights of the people of the tribal areas.

The JI senator said his party would struggle for the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"Of about 210 million population of Pakistan, 140 million are youth," he said, adding that the youth were a more important asset than the natural resources and atom bomb.

The senator said that the tribesmen had rendered sacrifices against the prolonged militancy in the tribal belt as their houses, markets, shops, health and education sectors were destroyed.

He said the security forces should stop searching houses in the name of search operations in Swat and Fata.

"Rao Anwar, the killer of 450 people including Naqeebullah Mehsud, was brought to court with a huge protocol," he said, demanding the chief justice to bring him to justice.

"There is no medical college and university in Fata for tribal youth and they lag far behind in education compared to other areas," he said.

He announced that Shah Faisal Afridi would be JI's candidate of NA-45 in next 2018 elections.

JI Fata ameer Sardar Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa youth vice president Shahjehan Afridi, Khyber Agency ameer Shah Faisal Afridi and others also spoke on the occasion.

Shah Faisal Afridi demanded officials of the security forces to remove unnecessary checkposts on Sheenkamar-Tirah road.

"At least 64 schools destroyed by militants should be rebuilt as soon as possible to save future of children," he said, adding that the electricity and water shortage problems in Khyber Agency should also be addressed.