The way forward in FATA

While others areas of the country are progressing, FATA stands at the same point where it was centuries ago. It has the same old rules of FCR for its people and the same despotic system of political agents governing them in the 21st century. The people of FATA want to be at par with the rest of the nation. A ray of hope appeared on the horizon in 2008 when the prime minister announced in his inaugural address in Parliament that the FCR will be abolished. But soon his government sent that proposal to the archives of the National Assembly under the pressure of interested parties. On the 62nd independence anniversary of Pakistan the president announced reforms for FATA, including extension of the Political Parties Act to that area. Nothing has been done so far. Let us hope the president will not go back on his word.

But how far can the people of FATA live on empty promises? How long can they be fooled with slogans like this? In the 63-year history of Pakistan they have seen nothing but wars, deaths and destruction. They are confused and feel betrayed when they see the radical changes in rules of governance elsewhere in the country. The world has changed, and so have the tribesmen. They are now aware of their rights and responsibilities. They cannot be kept in the dark any more. They have realised the strategic importance of their region and the sacrifices that they and their forefathers rendered for the country.

The period of selecting governors and other senior bureaucrats not speaking Pashto or not interested in the development of their area is over. FATA is no more dependent for help on educated people from outside the area. It has not only produced highly qualified persons but has some outstanding generals, ambassadors and other senior civil servants who can look after their areas better than any outsider. Enough experiments have been made by appointing governors from outside FATA. That should end if we are serious about the development of that area.

For FATA to be integrated into NWFP is not the right option at this time. The people of the area are reluctant to accept blindly what Peshawar and Islamabad would like them to do. They want to shoulder responsibilities themselves and develop their area first and consider changes afterwards. They are not prepared to live on empty promises of the rulers anymore who, because of their ill-conceived policies, have turned FATA into hell for them. Today the West feels insecure thousands of miles away due to the situation in Afghanistan. How can the rest of Pakistan remain safe if FATA is left to the whims of Peshawar and Islamabad?

FATA has all along remained an autonomous or semi-autonomous area in the region. It would be in the interest of the country to give it the status of a province, like that given to Gilgit-Baltistan. By doing so we would not only provide the inhabitants an opportunity to exercise their democratic right of electing members to the council/assembly but also enable them to bring changes in the FCR in accordance with their customs and traditions. Let the people become stakeholders in the affairs of their area. Let them develop the area, its communication system and strategic infrastructure which will help ensure safety and security, not only of FATA or NWFP, but the country as a whole.--Concluded

(Part I of the article on appeared on March 8.)



The writer is a former ambassador. Email: waziruk@hotmail. com