FATA left behind in new province debate

Local leaders say committee on new provinces does not understand tribal areas’ needs.

SHABQADAR:

The parliamentary commission on new provinces (PCNP) is facing hurdles after receiving criticism from major political parties for not representing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

In the area, political leaders, amongst others, have held strong reservations about the decision to create another province. The Fata parliamentarians are divided into four groups. These include the  Hameedullah Jan Afridi group, who lead the joint parliamentary group, Munir Orakzai (PPP-led coalition group), Akhunzada Chattan (PPP group), while Abdul Malik and Senator Salih Shah belongs to the JUI-F group.

While the PPP and ANP want to merge the tribal areas into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), JUI-F leaders want the Fata council to decide the fate of the area. Currently, all political leaders except for JUI-F and Orakzai groups seek representation in the commission on the formation of new provinces.

There are also three major views about the formation of a separate province for Fata. Most tribal leaders support the idea of a fifth province. Another opinion, supported by the ANP, says it should be merged into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). The third view supported by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) has called for an elected Fata council that should decide the future of Fata.

Jan Afridi’s group, considered friendly opposition for the government, held reservations about not being represented in the committee. Talking to The Express Tribune, Afridi said that many members of the PCNP were ‘irrelevant’ and wrongly appointed to their positions. He said that the 27,000 square kilometre area of Fata deserved to be a new province but if they were not taken into confidence about the issue then they would vote against it.

Ex-senator and member of JUI, Hafiz Rasheed also demanded a separate province for Fata and representation in the PCNP. Rasheed said that the tribal community had its own separate culture and that it was within their rights to acquire one. He criticised the government for leaving residents of Fata unrepresented in the committee.

Zahir Sahah Safi, a lawyer and general secretary of Fata Reforms Movement said Fata is the ‘fifth unit of the federation’ and it was in their constitutional rights to be taken on board in the committee. “Unfortunately when there is any amendment or other constitutional matter in parliament, Fata’s representation is always ignored and all its important issue are always handled without the voice of its people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2012.