Call for reforms: Senators want FATA people accorded legislative rights

Afrasiab laments that tribal people cannot even hold a local body election.

ISLAMABAD:

Senators from opposition parties in the upper house of Parliament gave voice to the rights of those living in the country’s tribal region, saying their fundamental rights were being violated.

Taking part in a debate on the law and order situation in the tribal areas during the last sitting of the 99th senate session, PPP and ANP senators commented on the inability of those living in the tribal region to create legislation for their rights or to hold a local body election. ANP senator Afrasiab Khattak said the rights enjoyed by people in other parts of the country are not available to those in the tribal region. “There is no parliament in the area and FATA parliamentarians cannot push for legislations for their respective area,” he noted.

He added that during the last few days, those killed or injured in clashes with the armed forces were unable to access medical facilities due to a continuous curfew in the area. The president must take steps to improve the living conditions of those in the region, as it comes under his control, the senator added. He also sought an impartial inquiry into the killing of innocent people and children during the military operation in Mirali and Miran Shah. Khattak emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms and regulation in FATA.



He alleged that some local agencies were involved in creating unrest in Balochistan while some foreign agencies are also operating in the area. Khattak demanded an end to the disappearances taking place in the area. PPP senator Raza Rabbani stated that according to the constitution, the president could take notice of the law and order situation in FATA and take steps to bring reform in the area.

Leader of the House Raja Zafar ul Haq said that reforms should be introduced in FATA to maintain law and order.  He added that the issue was discussed many times in the senate but no resolution had been offered by former governments. “I will personally meet the president and inform him about the sentiments of the Senate,” Haq assured the house.

The PPP’s Maula Bakhsh Chandio claimed that the incumbent government has totally failed to honour promises made during the election campaign.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique informed the Senate during the question hour that the railway ministry would remove all encroachments from railway land across the country. Replying to Senator Abdul Rauf’s question, the minister said that more than a thousand acres of railway land had been leased to provincial capitals in the past. No land has been leased during the last six months of the present government, he added. The government is taking action against illegal possession of railway land, he said, and action will be taken without succumbing to any political pressure. He also informed the House that encroachers have occupied a piece of land in Chaman and constructed a fort on it. They are equipped with sophisticated weapons and challenge the government, he said. Railway Police have sought the FC’s assistance in removing the occupants.

The house later prorogued for an indefinite period.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2013.