The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are struggling hard for their due status in Pakistan
BANNU, K-P: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are struggling hard for their due status in Pakistan. Fata is stuck in limbo between the federal government and the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). None have taken any serious steps to mainstream the region with other provinces of the country in legal and development terms.
The Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), the draconian law in place since 1901, has made Fata a dystopia of the 21st century. The law was introduced by British imperialists to control the disgruntled locals who posed serious threat to nefarious designs of the British in the region. The continuation of the law in the region against the wishes of the local people is beyond comprehension.
The FCR is in fact not a law; it is conviction without trial. There is no appeal or any other legal procedure.
It is time to abolish the FCR and merge the region with K-P. The matter should not be delayed any further.
Abdullah Wazir
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2017.
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