Mainstreaming tribal areas: Elections in FATA areas must be held with rest of country

QWP chief says merger would mark a new beginning for region

PESHAWAR: Even amidst opposition from some tribal elders, mainstream political parties affirm that merging the tribal areas with the province would lead to development. In this regard, he demanded elections in the recently merged areas at the same time as the rest of the country.

This was stated by Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmed Sherpao in a meeting with Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Youth Jirga members.



Sherpao said that after the merger, problems of the tribal people will be resolved while the Pakhtun nation would be united.

Moreover, he said that the merger would mark a new beginning for the region, putting the tribal region on the path of development in education, health, economic activity and governance issues.

The merger he said, was made possible by the tireless efforts and continuing struggle of all the political parties and the youth of Fata.



He said that the tribal people have a long history of serving Pakistan’s cause, having rendered numerous sacrifices in the war against terrorism. The merger, he said, will prove to eliminate terrorism in the region. The QWP chief said that the time had come for Pakhtuns in the region to unite for their rights and to safeguard their interests in the country.

He said that the QWP had always raised its voice for the Pakhtuns.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2018.