Leading from the front: FATA lawmakers demand representation in federal cabinet

Claim it is a ‘crucial time’ for the region due to the security situation.

SHABQADAR:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government has been criticised regarding its approach to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Fata lawmaker Shahji Gul Afridi told The Express Tribune six independent MNAs had formed a group in the National Assembly with GG Jamal Orakzai appointed as their parliamentary leader. On the other hand, Abbas Afridi will lead independent senators in the Senate of Pakistan.

Afridi added Fata lawmakers held a meeting in Islamabad on Monday night wherein they demanded the tribal belt be given representation in the federal cabinet.



The meeting, which was attended by both independent and party-affiliated lawmakers, also expressed its concern over K-P cabinet slots that were used for Hazara representation even though the latter was seeking to secede. “This is a crucial time for K-P and Fata,” maintained Afridi. “If Fata is not given representation in the federal cabinet, it will affect peace in the region. I think the present government is ignoring the Pukhtuns.”

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Bajaur, Shahabuddin Khan said he was offered a slot in the federal government, but refused due to his health.

“Fata and K-P will never be ignored at such a critical time,” added the MNA. He also criticised the Pukhtuns for consistently opposing main stream political parties by arguing they voted for the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in the past and did not vote for the PML-N in the 2013 polls. “This is the reason they are suffering without any representation in the federal cabinet.”



In the current federal cabinet, K-P has one federal minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, from the Hazara region.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reserved MNA Aisha Gulalai Wazir from Fata also criticised the federal government by claiming the latter was ignoring southern Punjab in addition to K-P and Fata. “By not giving these regions representation in the cabinet, the federal government is causing a sense of deprivation in these areas,” she explained.

“This is the case in Fata and K-P especially, where the prevailing law and order condition requires the government to take initiative and accommodate them in the cabinet.”

Fata has eight senators and 12 MNAs, out of which six are independents. In the previous government, the tribal belt had its own parliamentary leader along with two ministries. The government consulted the region in all parliamentary matters, with the tribal regions also having representation in the 18th Amendment Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.