K-P, FATA merger to be completed in five years: Qadir Baloch

He stated that reforms in K-P and FATA are of prime importance

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said that the government is committed for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) merger, and the process will be completed in five years, reported Radio Pakistan.

In an interview with PTV, he said reforms in Fata are imperative to uplift the living standard of the tribal people. The minister also reiterated that the Frontier Crime Regulations will be replaced with a new law, and the jurisdiction of the High Court and Supreme Court will be extended to Fata.



He said the people of the area will be given the right to choose their representatives and local governments will also be introduced there. He said merger of Fata with K-P is the demand of the people of the area and will of all the political parties in order to bring them in the mainstream.

Baloch further said the decision of the merger was taken at the committee's high-level meeting with the tribal elders of the all seven agencies and six frontier regions besides Fata parliamentarians. He said the process of the merger will be completed in five years after bringing proper reforms and development in the region.

Answering a question, the minister said there is no threat to democracy in the country. He further added that continuity of democracy is a guarantee to the development of the country. Baloch also stated that democracy is imperative for the resolution of the issues facing the country and that the civilian and military leadership were on the same page on the national issues.



Addressing a query, he said the total number of registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan is 1,500,000 and about 900,000 refugees are non-registered.

Baloch also stated that Pakistan is hosting 2,400,000 Afghan refugees for decades. He said the world should help Pakistan in early repatriation of the refugees.  He said the repatriation of Afghan refugees will help control terrorist incidents in the country.