Committee formed by PM visits Mohmand Agency

Elders oppose, politicians support Fata reforms

GHALLANAI: Split opinion came to the fore on the issue of reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) here Friday when members of the committee set up by the federal government for the purpose held a consultative jirga with the tribal elders and politicians in Mohmand Agency.

The five-member committee including the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, Minister of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt. Gen. (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch, the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister Lt Gen (R) Nasir Khan Janjua and Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid were present on the occasion to listen to the views of the local elders and political workers.

Civil and military officers including Brig Qaiser Khan also attended the jirga.Noted among the tribal elders who attended the jirga included Malik Attaullah Tarakzai, Malik Sahib Dad Haleemzai, Malik Gul Muhammad Prang Ghar, Malik Nadir Manan Kodakhel, Malik Syed Mehmood Jan Burhankhel, Malik Zar Khan Safi, Malik Aleem Khan Haleemzai, former Senator Abdul Rehman Faqir and former Member National Assembly Maulana Muhammad Sadiq. All of them spoke in favour of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and urged the government not to touch the law or make any changes to it.

However, the politicians, including Nisar Khan Mohmand of the Awami National Party, Saeed Khan of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Sajid Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jangriz Khan of the Pakistan People’s Party criticised the FCR and supported the proposed reforms in Fata.

The tribal elders and politicians had split opinion about the proposed reforms and FCR. The tribal elders chanted the slogans of “Long live FCR” while the tribal politicians raised the slogan of “Go FCR Go” as they pleadef ro change in Fata. .

Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan and Political Agent Mohmand Waqar Ali Khan intervened and requested both the sides to exercise restraint and give their input for the proposed reforms.

The politicians stressed the need for the abolishment of the FCR and merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The tribal elders, on the other hand, were of the opinion that the tribal region was in a state of war and thus abolishing the FCR would be unwise. Instead, they backed amendments in the FCR.

Sartaj Aziz said the committee would listen to the suggestions of the tribespeople and respect their opinion. He said the committee members had visited Bajaur Agency first and had come next to Mohmand Agency.

He said after visiting all the tribal agencies they would prepare the report and send it to the federal government for further action. “A law which would be better for the people would be introduced in Fata,” he added.

He said that peace has been restored to some areas of the Fata while military operations were being carried out to clear the rest of areas of militants.He urged the tribespeople to return to their native areas cleared of militants and play their role in the development of Fata.

Governor Sardar Mahtab said that various development projects, small dams and a Fata University would be set up shortly for the tribal areas.Later, the committee members met with the delegation of Mohmand Youth Council and local journalists to get their opinion on Fata reforms. They proposed that the FCR be scrapped.