Bajaur, Mohmand agencies' merger into PATA proposed

Background briefings with relevant officials suggest the first step would take around eight to 10 months

PESHAWAR: A proposal to include two quasi-districts of the seven tribal areas – Bajaur Agency and Mohmand Agency – into the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) is being viewed as a viable way of beginning reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), officials privy to the developments told The Express Tribune.

Two-and-a-half months have passed since the Fata Reforms Commission presented its report, and now proposals are flowing in from all quarters. However, a senior official of the Fata administration said it is not possible to undertake the reforms agenda in one go; hence, “a step-by-step procedure for merging tribal areas into settled districts is necessary.”

‘Baby steps’

So far, only Bajaur and Mohmand are being considered for the merger. Background briefings with relevant officials suggest that the first step would take around eight to 10 months. The two agencies have been chosen because they have been officially de-notified from having any surplus individuals who have been displaced due to military operations and because they are geographically close to Peshawar and share a history that dates back to the British era.

Senior lawyer and leader of Awami National Party Latif Afridi said he was approached by senators for legal insight on the matter. “I think the step should be lauded and the entire Fata should be merged, not just two agencies.”

The integration of the agencies into Pata will pave way for the demand of a local government system in the area, that too within the legal purview.

However, further orders are still awaited on the decision. FRC Chairman Ejaz Qureshi said they have submitted their suggestions and are awaiting the response of all stakeholders, including the security forces. “We suggest that a grand jirga of people from all the strata of the tribal heartlands should be called.”

Pages of history

The history of Bajaur and Mohmand suggests not many years have passed since they were declared as agencies. Mohmand Agency was established in 1951, prior to which the area had been under the administrative control of the Khyber Agency political administration, created in 1879.

Earlier, Bajaur was a semi-independent area like the states of Dir and Swat, and fell under the jurisdiction of the Malakand political administration. In 1960, it was declared a sub-division of the then Malakand Agency, headed by an assistant political agent. On December 1, 1973, Bajaur was given the status of an agency.