Restoration of peace: FATA lawyers demand judiciary’s writ in tribal belt

Say they will support the jirga set up to negotiate with the Taliban.

PESHAWAR: Lawyers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on Friday demanded the peace jirga, constituted to hold talks with the Taliban, consider extension of the superior judiciary’s writ in the tribal areas.

Addressing lawyers at the Peshawar High Court during a meeting of Fata Lawyers Forum (FLF) on Friday, FLF President Ijaz Mohmand said their only agenda was the establishment of rule of law in the region.

“We do not want anything but the extension of superior judiciary to Fata and the right to appeal before courts,” Mohmand said, adding the area has been deprived of justice since the Frontier Crimes Regulation had been enacted.



“Peace will not prevail unless the presence of foreigners comes to an end in the tribal belt,” maintained Advocate Rahim Shah, urging authorities to immediately clear the area of all foreigners.

Samiullah Afridi said the jirga should be apolitical and the media should be allowed to visit the tribal area.

The lawyers said both parties – the armed forces and the Taliban – should be disarmed prior to peace talks, as negotiations will not be productive if only one party (Taliban) was asked to lay down arms for holding talks.

In the meeting, the forum unanimously passed a resolution assuring all out support to the peace jirga, while at the same time stressed upon extending jurisdiction of the apex and high court to Fata.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2013.