PHOTO: CUBERMS
Tribal elders have rejected the proposed 22nd constitutional amendment bill and have threatened to hold a protest in Islamabad if politicians do not retract their decision.
These demands were put forward during a jirga in Khar on Sunday. It was attended by former MNA Hameedullah Jan Afridi, JUI-F leader Maulana Muhammad Sadique, besides others.
During the jirga, Afridi said they will never allow anyone to abolish the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). “However, we will accept amendments in the bill,” he added.
According to Afridi, the FCR was chalked out with the consent of their ancestors.
“If the politicians do not take their decision back, we will hold a protest until our demands are met.” Afridi added, “We stand united to safeguard the FCR and will never allow anyone to abolish our hundred-year-old system.”
He also demanded lungi allowance must be restored in Fata. The allowance was introduced by the British to maintain friendly relations with the political administration and the state.
On the other hand, MNA Haji Bismillah Khan of Bajaur Agency has said he never demanded Fata’s merger into K-P.
According to Bismillah, Fata should be made a separate province and tribal elders should be taken into confidence about any amendments to the FCR.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2015.
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