FATA calls

Our print and electronic media have so far not given due coverage to the atrocities committed against the people in FATA, though it can partly disclaim any responsibility for this omission by claiming not to have free access to the areas. Another factor contributing to this is the projection of biased or incorrect analysis of those who have brief exposure through government assignments in that area.

The situation there has not remained at a standstill. It has changed rapidly in the recent past and so have the realities on ground. It is only through regular contact and interaction with people that one keeps himself abreast of developments in any region. And to understand the distinct dynamics of the tribal customs and traditions in FATA one needs to be a part and parcel of that system. There are no shortcuts to that.

Recently our minister for information and broadcasting issued a broadside rejecting the report of Amnesty International about human-rights violations in FATA. He should not have relied only on reports received from political agents or other partisan agencies that are, allegedly, themselves involved in these violations. He should have acquainted himself with facts and figures about FATA before issuing that statement. I am sure he would not have been able to reject the AI report in toto with a clear conscience had he known the facts of the Tanai incident in South Waziristan or the Humzoni debacle in North Waziristan. The list of violations is too long if one starts from South Waziristan and ends up in Bajaur. But that is not the purpose of this article.

The government has kept FATA totally isolated from the rest of the country through the draconian laws of the FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulation). Interaction of the people with their brothers in the settled districts is marginal, one way and generally limited to tribesmen visiting the settled areas, and that also when unavoidable. Even today you can find people who have never been to large cities in the country.

Similarly, very few from settled areas may have visited FATA because of government restrictions. It can be easily called an open-air sub-jail. No one, other than the inmates, is allowed to enter this sub-jail and that also with government permission. This makes FATA inaccessible for the outside world, thus the atrocities committed against the local people remain hidden and unnoticed.

The army was deployed in the areas mainly to flush out foreign militants, but in the process it got bogged down with its own people. Such are the consequences of wars imposed upon people against their wishes. A former senator of the ruling party has rightly said that despite the government's best efforts it could not convince people to accept it as their own war. Our leaders have accepted this war as ours but have paid only lip-service to its success.

The leaders of the west do not tire of lending support to their troops in Afghanistan. President Obama visited his troops immediately after taking over power as did Bush before him. The same was done by British Prime Minister David Cameroon or Tony Blair earlier as well as other leaders of the west. In contrast, our leaders have barricaded themselves in Islamabad parading along Constitution Avenue in bullet-proof cars without taking the trouble to visit the strife-torn area to lend moral support to the troops engaged in combat operations or to acquaint themselves with the hell unleashed upon the locals living in those areas.

Leaders in the west are walking a tightrope to go along with the wishes of their people. Ours are not bothered; they care two hoots for public sentiments. The prime minister is on record as having said that development in FATA cannot take place till the return of peace in that area. He conveniently forgets that it is his own government which is responsible for the restoration of peace in the area, and not the people. President Zardari also went back on his promise of extending political and economic reforms, including the Political Parties Act, to FATA. What compulsion he had to go back on that promise is not the concern of the people of FATA. They want their area to be developed where they can live in peace and harmony and enjoy the same rights and privileges that their brothers enjoy in the rest of the country.

FATA is not the same as it was decades ago. Things have changed drastically leading to change in the power centre in the area. The government has done nothing to reverse the situation so far. It has used force only which is not the remedy. The remedy lies with the government which needs to show its presence in the area and take bold decisions for immediate implementation of its promises.

We cannot afford to waste more time in deliberations as to whether the FCR be amended or repealed. We need to act and amend it quickly along with extending the Political Parties Act to the area. This will make the people stakeholders in the affairs concerning FATA. That should be followed by massive aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The younger generation of tribesmen is aware of its rights and has not inherited the patience of its elders. It will not brook further delay to get its rights. The youngsters have seen their elders rendering sacrifices and in return getting nothing from the government. They are in a hurry. They have the resolve and strength to stand up together and get from the government what is due to them. Let us not deny them their rights anymore. Let us not force them to come out on the streets.



The writer, a former ambassador, hails from FATA. Email: waziruk@hotmail .com