Fearful of losing privileges: Fata residents continue to resist merger

Claim K-P government wants control over their natural resources to counter debt

PESHAWAR: With the tribal areas finally becoming a part of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), many seem to be happy at getting the recognition they deserve. But some are angry, including those who fear losing perks and privileges, others who are apprehensive of their mines being taken over.

It does not end there. Many, who have been involved with political administration in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) one way or the other, fear the merger would end the benefits that came with such close contact with arguably the most powerful men in the tribal areas.



Some of these people were involved in the weekend clashes in Peshawar and elsewhere in the province with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) announcing plans to lock the doors of the K-P assembly to block the merger.

Majority of those who protested outside K-P assembly and were later baton charged came from Frontier Regions (FR) of Kohat including Darra Adam Khail since they fear that not only will the government take over their coal mines and increase the lease cost and levying taxes while the arms industry will cave in.

“They [the K-P government] will take over the leases, the mountains rich with natural resources since what else do they have to run K-P,” stated Malik Firdous Afridi while expressing his reservations at the merger.



“Not only our area, but the entire tribal belt, from Mohmand’s white marbles to gas reservoirs in South Waziristan, is what the K-P government wants,” Afridi told The Express Tribune, adding, “If the federal government has failed, what do you expect from K-P [for the tribal areas] which is already in debt.”

“We have been dealing in arms for years and we have never been asked for any licence or permit except for exporting products outside of Darra, but now, you will have to obtain a licence and this is what will impact our business,” said an elderly arms dealer of Darra Adam Khail.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2018.