Tribal elders, politicians demand separate FATA assembly

Participants at seminar call for end to military operations in the tribal belt.

PESHAWAR: Participants of a seminar held on Monday asked the government to setup an elected Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) assembly.

The seminar, titled “Fata issues, problems and solutions,” asked for the government to create the assembly and handover powers to the people of the area to ensure lasting peace in the war-battered region. It was attended by tribal elders, politicians and analysts.

A declaration quantifying their aims was presented at the end of the seminar. It called for an end to military operations in the tribal belt and said that issues should be resolved through dialogue.

The seminar also concluded that it was necessary to create conditions so that tribesmen could return to their homes peacefully.

Participants said that the United Nations (UN) should be contacted in this respect. They also called for an end to US drone strikes and stressed that the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) and Action in Aid of Civilian Power (2011) be abolished.

An apology from Pakistani government for what it had done to the people of the region over the past 65 years was also sought.

Speaking at the seminar, former Jamaat e Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed said that establishing peace was the most important thing in the tribal areas. He said that politicians and other leaders need to chalk out a favourable plan to bring lasting peace to the region.

He said that at present around 1.5 million tribesmen were displaced from their homes and that they should be rehabilitated. “Pakistan’s cooperation with the US on war on terror is a big obstacle to obtain peace. Pakistan must pull out of this coalition,” he said.

“Military operations have ruined the peace and political structure of the area. A tribal assembly should be set up to formulate the future strategy for the region.”