Government should bring FATA into the mainstream without any further delay so that its citizens can get equal rights
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN AGENCY: There is not a single university or medical college in the tribal areas and the literacy rate is less than 20 per cent for males and three per cent for females. All other facilities such as health, electricity and roads also lack in terms of meeting the requirements of the seven million-strong populace. We need to bring a radical reform in Article 247 of the Constitution. Due to Article 247 and the draconian laws of the British era, as well as the recent military operations in the area, the majority of people in Fata live in camps for internally displaced persons in various parts of the country. The most interesting things regarding these areas is that if the government has conducted elections for the National Assembly here, then why can it not conduct local government polls in the region? Having a local government is very important because the old system has totally collapsed and people are deprived of their rights. Perhaps, it is time to bring positive reforms in Fata and finally pay attention to its residents, so that the tribal people can also enjoy constitutional rights like other Pakistanis.
The constant refrain on Fata reforms has become a favourite pastime for politicians and there is a need to break this inertia of bringing reforms through committees that have no representation of the tribal people. The government should bring Fata into the mainstream without any further delay so that its citizens can get equal rights.
(To be concluded)
Rafiuddin Mehsud
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2016.
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