Determined: Meeting held to demand abolishment of FCR

Participants say law in FATA has no accountability system

JAMRUD: Khyber Political Ittehad and FATA Lawyers Forum have demanded an end to Frontier Crimes Regulation in the tribal belt. The tribespeople have to live a harsh life due to FCR, said representatives of the lawyers’ forum at a joint meeting held on Saturday at the residence of Shahid Khan Shinwari, a member of the  forum.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all the political parties associated with Khyber Political Ittehad. Participants at the meeting demanded that instead of acting upon the wishes of a few tribal leaders, the prime minister should consider the opinion of all the tribespeople and then take a decision.

Participants said an end to the FCR will end terrorism in the region and development projects will be easily executed.

“The prevailing law has no room for accountability which is why corruption is freely reigning there,” said one of the participants. “There is no concept of lawyers, which is why there is confusion among people.”

The prime minister’s reforms committee presently operating in the region was also criticised at the meeting where participants said the committee is only considering opinions from a privileged class of people from the tribal areas.

“The real problems are being faced by the public, but their voices are rendered a deaf ear,” one of the speakers said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.