The most important point of the NAP — the 12th point on reforms in Fata — has seemingly been forgotten
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: After the grand-scale massacre of schoolchildren on December 16, 2014, our military and government decided to completely eradicate the roots of terrorism and extremism from the country. In this regard, the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) was created, and there has been progress on many of the points laid down. However, the most important point of the NAP — the twelfth point on reforms in Fata — has seemingly been forgotten. The administrative, political, social and economic needs of Pakhtuns living in the colonial construct of Fata have escaped the minds of those who created the plan.
The population of the tribal areas is about seven million, but there is not a single university or medical college 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 are also lacking in terms of meeting the requirements of the populace. We need to bring a radical reform in Article 247 of the Constitution. Due to Article 247, and the British-era barbaric laws, 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 are that if the government has conducted elections for the National Assembly here, then why cannot it conduct local government polls in the region? Having a local government is very important because the old system has totally collapsed and there is no other way for the people to get their rights. Perhaps, it is time to bring some positive reforms in Fata and finally pay attention to its residents, so that the tribal people can also enjoy constitutional freedoms like other Pakistanis. If some progressive steps are not taken soon, then the people of Fata will become increasingly alienated from mainstream society, and extremism and militancy will become endemic. I sincerely hope positive steps regarding reforms in Fata are taken as early as possible.
Rafiuddin Mehsud
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.
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