Sherpao was speaking at the ceremony where he handed over keys of the newly constructed workers quarters, for 1,152 labourers, in Gadoon Industrial Estate. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SWABI/ PARACHINAR/ MARDAN: A majority of the tribespeople want Fata to be merged in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the judiciary to be extended to the tribal areas. This was said by an MNA from Fata, Sajid Hussain Turi, while talking to journalists in Parachinar, Kurram Agency on Sunday.
“We believe it is high time for the FATA Reforms Committee to help the tribespeople,” Sajid Hussain said. “This is possible if Fata is merged in K-P.”
He said this with respect to the meeting of proposed reforms in Fata, called by Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad on Monday (today).
Sajid Hussain added the tribespeople also want local government elections to take place in Fata.
The tribespeople associated with leading political forces like Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and National Party want the merger to take place. However, tiny pockets within PML-N, JUI-F and PMAP’s chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai have a different stance on the matter. Some of the tribal elders want the status of an independent province for Fata.
Merger, a mission
Qaumi Watan Party also favours the merger, calling it their mission that should be accomplished soon. This was by QWP Chairperson Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao at a ceremony on Sunday.
“[This will] extend [power of] the Supreme Court and high court to the region, bringing real system of justice for the tribespeople, [provided] the Frontier Crimes Regulation is also abolished.”
The party chief also spoke about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, calling it a game-changer especially for the war-stricken province of the country.
“We don’t need a mere road in the [name of] the corridor, but want special economic zones that would create jobs.”
He said after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, it was decided that a special royalty would be allocated to those provinces that produce oil and gas on their soil and the federal and provincial governments would have a 50-50 share in it. Sherpao was speaking at the ceremony where he handed over keys of the newly constructed workers quarters, for 1,152 labourers, in Gadoon Industrial Estate.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2016.
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