Govt asked to implement reforms in merged areas

PESHAWAR: The leaders of Qabail Qaumi Ittehad on Tuesday threatened to launch a protest movement and besiege the Governor’s House if the government did not ensure the implementation of the reforms in the merged districts in letter and spirit.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, the leaders from various political parties including former MNAs Akhunzada Chattan, Shahjee Gul Afridi, Zahir Shah Safi, Jangraiz Mohmand, Haroon Rashid and others asked the government to extend due rights to the residents of the merged tribal districts.

They sought the provision of funds for the uplift projects, the revision of the minerals bill, and exemption from taxes.

The politicians urged the government to implement the Sartaj Aziz committee’s report on Fata reforms as the non-implementation of the recommendations had created unrest and disappointment among the people of the hitherto neglected areas. They said the government had also announced to pay Rs1000 billion to the merged districts for the uplift projects in the next 10 years, but no funds have been released so far. The politicians said the residents of the merged districts had to collect donations to construct roads. They said the tribespeople opted for the merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the government seemed least bothered to honour its pledges. The politicians complained that the government did not take the tribal people into confidence before passing the mineral law.