PTI MNA opposes bill seeking Fata’s merger into KP

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly (MNA) Ayesha Gulalai Wazir has opposed the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill presented in the National Assembly to pave the way for merging Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking at a news conference here on Saturday, she said the idea wasn’t workable.
Pir Aurangzeb, who contested and lost the May 2013 general election from NA-40 North Waziristan constituency as an independent candidate, announced joining PTI on the occasion.
Ayesha Gulalai said, “We are opposed to the merger of Fata into the settled areas as we want separate status for the tribal areas.” She said that Fata had its own traditions that were different from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She said Fata was full of mineral and natural resources, but the tribal people were deprived of education and health facilities.
Flanked by PTI leader Mohammad Iqbal Afridi and others, Ayesha Gulalai said the implementation of Fata reforms was a must to put the tribal areas on the path of progress.
She maintained that Fata was part of Pakistan and if the local government elections could be held in other parts of the country, why these couldn’t be conducted in the tribal belt to free tribespeople from the clutches of the political agent. “The government should take steps to give constitutional rights to the people in Fata,” the PTI MNA added.
She proposed the establishment of Fata Legislative Council to decide whether Fata should be merged with KP or given the status of a separate entity.
She lauded the security forces for making sacrifices to bring peace and stability in Fata.
Ayesha Gulalai, who is also PTI provincial information secretary, said her party would raise voice for the rights of tribespeople and present a comprehensive Fata reforms agenda to provide due rights to tribesmen and bring about change in social fabric of the tribal society.