The great divide: Tribespeople clearly at odds over future of FATA

People, politicians polarised over merger with K-P, PATA or maintaining FCR

SHABQADAR: When the FATA Reforms Committee finally had a chance to pay its eagerly anticipated visit to the tribal belt, it met locals whose opinions and desires were greatly divided.

The committee, which was formed in November, visited Bajaur and Mohmand agencies between December 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016. It was headed by Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. Members included National Security Adviser Nasir Janjua, federal ministers Zahid Hamid, Qadir Baloch and Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan.

However, visits to other tribal agencies such as Khyber were put on hold for the time being.

The committee was established by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when Fata lawmakers submitted a 22nd amendment bill in the National Assembly and demanded the area be merged with the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) and K-P.

Divisive change

When the committee met tribal elders, political party workers, youth representatives and other delegates, it found conflicting points of view. While tribal elders supported the FCR with some reforms, the youth and political parties demanded merging the tribal belt with Pata.

During the meetings, elders praised the FCR in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. At the same time, political party workers chanted slogans against the law. They slammed the K-P governor and political administration for favouring the FCR. The tribespeople alleged the political administration, on the advice of Mehtab, invited people favouring a regulation they saw as the main hurdle standing in the way of regional reforms.

Reforms committee

ANP Mohmand President Nisar Mohmand criticised the FCR during the committee’s visit to Mohmand and said the voice of tribespeople were suppressed by the administration. He claimed it was a similar story in other tribal agencies.

Nisar said after visiting Mohmand and Bajaur, the committee was scheduled to visit Khyber. However, the Khyber political administration did not provide a time or a venue for the meeting.

Nisar, who is also spokesperson for an alliance of Fata political parties, raised questions over the make-up of the committee. He took great exception to the presence of the governor on the official body and warned political forces would raise their voices.

However, the allegations put forward by Nisar were rejected by the political administration which said all stakeholders were invited to openly raise their concerns before the committee.

Regional players noticed some lawmakers supported merging the region with Pata, while others were in favour of electing a FATA council or turning the region into a separate province altogether.

PML-N MNA Shahabuddin Khan was clear on his demand of merging it with Pata, but lacked support from fellow party MNAs during committee meetings. Many of those who proposed the 22nd amendment backtracked from their previous position of merging the region and now only want reforms. They suggested the formation of a FATA Council to decide the future of the tribal belt, possibly a separate Fata province.

Mohmand Agency PPP President Farooq Afzal said while the committee may have been formed, the status quo could remain as the reforms were not drastic enough.

Nisar shared similar views and said the committee was a façade to show the world something was being done. He said the committee was wasting time and there would be no concrete reform in the end. He feared the entire exercise could cause rifts between the youth and tribal elders; something which would be detrimental for Fata’s future.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2016.