Refining FATA package: Imran tasks K-P govt to finalise suggestions

PTI welcomes the package, but expresses reservations over financial powers bestowed upon the governor K-P

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan tasked the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to quickly finalise recommendations to fine-tune the recently approved Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) reforms package.

On Friday, PTI welcomed the package, but expressed reservations over financial powers bestowed upon the governor K-P – instead of the Chief Minister.

According to the package, the cabinet okayed funds amounting to Rs110 billion for Fata under a 10-year uplift plan. A significant portion of this funding would be given through the National Finance Commission.

This was decided during a meeting held at Imran Khan’s residence in Bani Gala. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister of K-P Pervaiz Khattak along with his cabinet members.”

“Confusion persists over the framework of authority of the chief minister and governor. PTI has decided to propose recommendations to the government [in this regard] after a detailed review of the reforms package,” read a statement issued by the party following the meeting.

During the meeting, Imran appreciated Khattak for his efforts to get the reforms approved. He said that the efforts of the K-P CM had yielded exclusive rights to choose their own representatives for the tribesmen.

Terming such steps important and decisive, Imran said that measures were also taken by the K-P government for alleviating tribesmen’s deprivations. He also said that the entire nation was rejoicing for the people of K-P for bringing tribesmen in Fata into the national mainstream.

Everyone, Imran said, who worked for the rights of the tribal people deserved appreciation, adding that chronic problems such as deprivation of rights, negligence and absence of infrastructure would be removed.

Imran said that the reforms would help curb terrorism and extremism from the country’s western border.However, he said, the package still contained some ambiguities and contradictions.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2017.