Different strokes: FATA reforms, FCR polarise tribespeople

One jirga rejects extension of Constitution to tribal belt; other decries draconian law

GHALLANAI: Separate jirgas were held in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies to discuss the Frontier Crimes Regulation and future reforms for Fata under the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment.

In Mohmand Agency, a jirga was held at Sangar Gandhab where former federal ministers Hamidullah Jan and Malik Waris Khan Afridi were present. Waris Khan is also a Pakistan Peoples Party leader in the region. Others in attendance were former MNA Kamran Khan, Malik Khan Marjan and Malik Muhammad Ali.

The tribal elders collectively opposed the integration of Fata into Pata. Hamidullah said the region was dependent on the tribal jirga system and rejected the proposed 22nd Amendment.

The former minister also demanded the imposition of Sharia law in the tribal region. He said the Constitution was based on British principles and that was the reason he rejected the extension of superior courts to Fata. He claimed although tribal lawmakers tabled the 22nd Amendment Bill in the National Assembly, only four of them now supported it and the rest were in favour of the Fata Grand Alliance.

Hameedullah said his alliance will meet those lawmakers who supported a similar ideology on December 29. He rejected the current state of the FCR, but pointed out the government had brought amendments to the regulation in 2011 which were yet to be implemented. The FCR itself was also a document authored under the British Raj.

The former minister added the tribal belt depended on rewaj (customs) and the jirga system. He stressed tribespeople would never want the Constitution of Pakistan to extend to Fata and would resist such a move. Hameedullah said he had received assurances from political forces that any amendment against the wishes of the people of Fata would not be accepted.

Malik Waris Khan, also, demanded reforms in Fata according to the wishes of the people. He said political agents be afforded less influence, adding such officials were more like dictators than public servants. Against the FCR

Another public gathering was held in Khar, Bajaur Agency against the FCR. It was attended by PML-N’s Haji Rahat, PPP’s Aurangzeb Inquilabi, former JUI-F senator Abdul Rashid and others.

Rashid said the FCR was the main hurdle hampering progress and development in Fata, He said the regulation was responsible for setting the region back by a century. Rashid added the FCR empowered the political administration to treat the masses like slaves.

Inquilabi said the youth was fed up of the FCR and wanted reforms. According to Inquilabi, the administration neglected Fata during the earthquake. He added the prime minister was declaring mega projects “left, right and centre”, but only visited the tribal areas and announced nothing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2015.