Jirga mandates Fazl to hold talks with PM Nawaz

Representatives of tribal areas reject merger proposals

PESHAWAR: A Jirga of Fata representatives has unanimously rejected the proposed reforms drawn up in a comprehensive report prepared by the Fata Reforms Committee.

The Jirga was particularly opposed to the merger to the tribal areas with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It also decided to appoint Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to mediate on their behalf with the authorities concerned in Islamabad. The Jirga attended by 35 representatives of seven agencies was held in the JUI-F secretariat in the provincial metropolis.



“Elders of the seven agencies have rejected the Fata reforms package after a prolonged meeting of three hours and blamed that the reforms will endanger the political future of the area.”

The JUI-F chief also announced its unconditional support to the Jirga and agreed to head a committee that will hold talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the issue.



While talking to the media, Maulana Fazl rejected the recommendations of the reforms committee and blamed Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who headed the committee on ignoring those suggestions that was approved by the elders.

“He (Aziz) hadn’t included those suggestions and didn’t make them part of the reforms that were approved at the meeting of Fata elders at the Convention Centre held in Islamabad sometimes ago this year.”



“We also do not support any move from the federal government that demand to make Fata as part of K-P or make it as independent province. We wish and demand that any such act should be taken with the consent of the people of Fata and its representatives,” Fazl said.

“We will not sit with any representative of the federal government. I will place all the demands of the Jirga before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the outcome of the meeting will be presented to the people on December 18 in Peshawar,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.