An all-parties conference (APC) was held in Ghallanai that was addressed by leaders of nine political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI). Political groups also called for remerging 25 disputed villages of Charsadda district into Mohmand Agency.
The Fata organiser of PTI’s youth wing, Naveed Mohmand, said that the amended Political Parties Act was extended to the tribal belt but the political administrations of all seven agencies were against the move and had opposed its implementation in letter and spirit.
He added that political gatherings were still banned and prior permission was mandatory for any political activity in the tribal areas.
PPP Vice President for Fata, Jangrez Khan, said the amendments brought in by the PPP government in 2010, were a milestone for the area. He added, however, that the amended FCR has not yet helped tribesmen, who are still being arrested under the Collective Responsibility Act of the FCR.
Shamroz Khan of the JUI-F condemned local administrations for not implementing the amended FCR and asked the government to look into the matter.
ANP Secretary Information Gulnawaz Khan Mohmand demanded that 25 disputed villages of Charsadda district should be made a part of Mohmand again. The villages were initially a part of Mohmand Agency but were later merged into settled Charsadda district without the consent of the locals.
Political leaders said that the FCR is a draconian law which was enforced on Pakhtun soil in the British Era. They added that the black law, which has long been abolished in other parts of the region, is still functional in Fata in violation of human rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2012.
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