Power to the people: Pressing demands for local bodies’ elections in tribal areas

Led by FRC, politicians and social activists reiterated demand for local representation.

PESHAWAR: Political leaders and social activists from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) reached a consensus over their demand for local government (LG) elections in the tribal areas at a conference organised by the FATA Research Centre (FRC) in Peshawar.

Speaking to the media after the roundtable conference, FRC President Dr Ashraf Ali said attendees had reached the consensus that residents of Fata have been deprived of their basic rights for long enough. According to Ali, the people had been suppressed, and the state’s “deprivation policy had created a vacuum, which is now being filled by militants.”

He said the time has come to give Fata the right to vote and elect their own representatives at a grass-roots level. Ali said the manifestos of all parties state they will bring Fata into the political mainstream – the first stage of which is empowerment for the locals.

“Unfortunately, the political parties of Pakistan are silent over the issue. If LG elections are held all over the country, why should they not be held in Fata as well?”

Dr Ali, explaining the format for elections, insisted there must be three tiers to the government: union councils, tehsil councils and agency councils. A Fata council was also suggested at the conference.

“A political agent is the uncrowned prince of an agency,” he said. “Until his powers are significantly reduced, this system will not work.”

Flanked by Awami National Party leader from Bajaur Agency Sheikh Janzada and a political analyst from Mohmand Agency, Said Nazeer, Dr Ali reminded participants about Fata’s natural resources. When the people’s representatives are given actual governance rights, Fata will not only fulfil its own needs but cater to the rest of Pakistan as well, claimed Ali.

To a question about the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), Ali told The Express Tribune it is a fact that FCR is not progressive for the region. He claimed Fata parliamentarians held no power over legislation and were given meagre resources to work with. However, Ali expressed hope that democracy would gradually be strengthened in the area.

FATA Reforms leader Zahir Shah Safi told participants though the law and order in the region is not stable, it can be overcome through proper representation. Safi emphasised elections must be held through the election commission and not political agents.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2014.