Political reforms in Newly Merged Districts of FATA-News,Updated and discussions

[saiyan0321]

LANDI KOTAL: The participants of a group discussion have strongly opposed holding referendum on future status of Fata and warned against delay in merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The event was organised at the local press club by Fata Research Centre as part of its survey report on the recommendations of Fata Reforms Commission presented to the federal government for approval.

Activists of almost all the mainstream political parties expressed their views on the occasion. Except the workers of JUI-F, almost all demanded merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without any further delay.

They said that apart from the political parties and their activists in tribal areas, local ulemas, students and even women favoured immediate repeal of Frontier Crimes Regulation and extension of all the regular laws of the country to the tribal areas.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Muqtadir Shah, PTI leader Abdur Raziq, PML-N leader Israr Khan, ANP representative Zarullah Shinwari, JUI-F leader Maulana Rehmatullah, student leader Aamir Afridi and some members of the civil society organisations participated in the daylong group discussion.

Malak Nadeem Afridi, a local elder, lauded Fata parliamentarians for supporting reforms in the century-old administrative and judicial system in tribal areas. He said that for the first time in the history of the country independent MNAs presented a bill in National Assembly to support reforms in the existing system.

JI leader Muqtadir Shah and PTI leader Abdur Raziq said that there was no need of a referendum for ascertaining the future status of Fata as almost all the elected parliamentarians supported the reforms package and merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They termed the opponents of merger as opportunists and said that nobody would be allowed to deceive the people of Fata in the name of referendum and safeguarding the so-called tribal customs and traditions.

Presenting his party dissenting opinion on the merger plan, JUI-F leader Maulana Rehmatullah said that although his party was in favour of repeal of FCR yet it wanted all the people of Fata to give their opinion about future status of the region through a referendum.

“Our party is a major political force in Fata and no one can overrule our opinion and suggestions,” he said.

DRIVE: The Khyber Agency political administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the seven-day special anti-polio vaccination campaign in all the three tehsils of the agency.

Officials said that hundreds of personnel of Frontier Corps, Khasadar and Levies would be deployed in sensitive localities alongside providing security to 750 mobile and 200 supervisory teams throughout Khyber Agency during the campaign.

Local administration has also imposed a ban on pillion riding during the campaign and increased patrolling of the law enforcing agencies personnel. The ban on pillion riding was imposed after armed men riding a motor cycle killed a health worker in Jamrud during the previous vaccination campaign.

Special arrangements have also been made at Torkham border to administer anti-polio drops to all the Afghan children going back to their country.

Officials said that a total of 220,000 children under the age of five would be vaccinated during the campaign.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2016


http://www.dawn.com/news/1298335/khyber-political-workers-oppose-referendum-on-future-of-fata

 

[SBD-3]

Quite a diversity on merger issue going on, 16 tribes of FR Kohat Adam Khel oppose merger with KP. Saying we have nothing against merge in KP but PM should honor promises done with us for amendments in 40 FCR.

 

[saiyan0321]

PESHAWAR: A group of tribal elders, including representatives of Khyber Union, a welfare body, and Fata Grand Alliance on Friday strongly opposed the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Speaking at a joint news conference at Peshawar Press Club, former MNA Hameedullah Jan Afridi, who heads the alliance, urged the federal government to give Fata the status of a separate province instead of merging it with KP. He demanded of the government to conduct local government elections in Fata and announce development package for the tribal belt.

He was accompanied by tribal elders, including Bazar Gul, president of Khyber Union, Murad Saqi, its chief organiser, and office-bearers of the alliance.

Mr Afridi also asked the Fata Reforms Committee Chairman Sartaj Aziz to seek apology from tribesmen for what he said labeling them as ‘rebellious’, insisting that the tribal people were neither rebels nor security risk for the country, but were peace-loving and patriotic people.

Hameedullah Afridi said the KP province was already economically weak and could not bear the burden of 10 million tribals.

Arguing in favour of a separate provincial status for Fata, he said fate of the tribal areas should be decided through a referendum. He claimed that hardly 25 per cent tribal people favored their region’s merger with KP.

The former lawmaker said they wanted the complete abolishment of Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) as well as all the powers of political agents, and establishment of an independent elected council.

“For provision of speedy justice to tribal people, Fata courts or Fata jirga courts should be formed in consultation with the autonomous and independent elected council,” he maintained, and added that all the disputes and cases of tribesmen should be resolved under tribal customs.

Published in Dawn November 26th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1298777/economically-weak-kp-cannot-bear-burden-of-fata


We are back to square one. The tribal elders ( some of them) don't want a merger bcz it will diminish their power and its the same thing as fazlu. The politicians, the students, the lawyers and the intelligentsia of fata wants a merger. If KPK is also willing for a merger and says it can handle it and the federal is willing to back it up then why not?

 

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PESHAWAR: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday urged the federal government to abolish the centauries-old Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and merge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The demands were made during a day-long seminar held at the Peshawar Press Club. The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Fata Youth Wing had organised the seminar titled ‘Youth Against FCR.’

JI Fata chief Sardar Khan, general secretary Muhammad Rafique, JI Fata Youth Wing chief Shah Jehan Afridi and a large number of youth attended the event. The speakers said the world had changed and awareness created among the people about their rights but lamented that a draconian law FCR was still enforced in Fata.

They said the people around the globe turned to democracy but the tribespeople in Pakistan were being denied their rights for centuries. The British-era law benefited only a handful of people while the majority of the tribespeople were deprived of their basic human rights, he added.

They said Fata was ignored in terms of development work and suppressed by FCR.The speakers added that the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would address the sense of deprivation of the tribespeople and bring tribal areas into the mainstream.

They endorsed the recommendations of the Fata Reforms Committee formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to propose reforms for Fata and demanded merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the 2018 general election.


https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/168756-Fata-youth-demand-merger-with-KP

Federal you have one year to not botch this up and actually claim of doing something big for this country ( you know not the unfair taking credit of nuclear program).

To put a true end to British constructs in pakistan. Destroy the FCR

 

[saiyan0321]

PESHAWAR: A consultative meeting on the future of tribal areas ended in a brawl between anti- and pro-reform tribal elders and their supporters.

The grand jirga, called by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), was set to screen a documentary on the future of Fata, officials told The Express Tribune. But the programme ended before its formal start.

The scuffle was so intense that security staff evacuated the governor, who is also Fata’s chief executive, and the K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar.

The scuffle was sparked by the provocative comments made by Khan Marjan, a tribal chief from the North Waziristan Agency.

Terming the members of the reforms committee traitors, he stated that tribal areas had been destroyed and Fata’s public representatives in the National Assembly were unaware of ground realities.

“Whatever you (the committee) have written in the report is nothing short of an insult to the tribesmen,” were Marjan’s last words, after which the hall reverberated with full-throated anti-FCR slogans.

Governor K-P Iqbal Zafar Jaghra was evacuated after tribesmen favouring Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) intimidated participants of the grand jirga.

A shouting match ensued between supporters and detractors of FCR and soon tribesmen raising slogans of ‘Go MNAs Go’ and ‘Go FCR Go’ entered into a physical punch-up.

Meanwhile, MNAs from Fata were angry over the federal government and Fata secretariat’s attitude, insisting that both had persistently obstructed reforms in Fata.

They contended that there was no need for holding the grand jirga since the bill was already in the Senate.

“These are just people with hidden agendas and they do not want any reforms in Fata,” PML-N’s MNA Shahabuddin Khan told journalists.

They also accused the governor, who is a PML-N stalwart, of using the Fata Secretariat to serve his vested interests.

A senior Fata Secretariat official said that initially, only five elders from each tribal agency were to be called for the Jirga, but the programme was apparently changed on the instructions of someone up top.

All political agents were instructed to bring at least 25 people with them, he said.

“The message was conveyed after Friday prayers … We did not even have two hours to inform relevant people.”

MNA Shahji Gul from Khyber Agency said that disrupting the function was an enemy ruse.

Interestingly, bureaucrats working in the Fata secretariat enjoyed tea and refreshment despite the commotion, but lawmakers sat outside the main hall.

The lawmakers from Fata argued that the governor sought to practically restrict the effectiveness of the committee’s report.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3rd, 2016.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1251984/provocative-comments-grand-jirga-fata-reforms-ends-brawl/

The elders don't want to lose powers but many elders are with the reforms but quite a few are against reforms.

 

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PESHAWAR: A tribal jirga called by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday asked the federal government to abolish the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and merge Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within two months or else they would march on Islamabad.

The JI had convened the jirga to discuss the process of bringing reforms in Fata. Speaking on the occasion, JI chief Senator Sirajul Haq said the FCR was imposed on the tribespeople by the British Raj so it must be abolished to provide relief to the people. He sought the abolition of the FCR and merger of Fata with KP.Sirajul Haq said that if Fata reforms were not implemented within two months, his party would march on Islamabad.

He added that the people of Fata had always sacrificed for the country, but the rulers were least bothered to mitigate their sufferings. "The tribesmen are patriotic people, but they were never given their due rights.

They have been suffering due to militancy and lawlessness for 15 years," he said.Sirajul Haq said that Fata was ignored as no tangible development work was carried out there. He added that the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would help remove the sense of deprivation among the tribespeople and bring tribal areas into the mainstream.

JI leaders Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Zarnoor Afridi, Haroonur Rashid and others also addressed the gathering. A unanimous resolution adopted by the jirga demanded the abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation, merger of Fata with KP, carrying out census in all tribal areas, increasing share of Fata in the National Finance Commission from 3 to 6 percent, announcing compensation for terror victims and holding general election on the pattern of other provinces.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/169868-Jirga-urges-Centre-to-abolish-FCR-merge-Fata-with-KP

LANDI KOTAL: A referendum should be held for a decision on the future of Fata, tribal elders agreed at a grand Jirga held at Baghe Naran here on Sunday.

“We will never accept the views of a few on the majority … We have always called for amending the existing law, the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and never its revocation,” Malik Nasirullah said.

“Our people are still displaced because of the ongoing military operation … We urge the federal government to pay compensation to people who suffered as a result of the operations … The system should be changed with the consent of tribal elders and people,” he said.

Criticising prime minister’s adviser Sartaj Aziz for submitting “an unjust report” on Fata reforms, Malik Marjan said that if FCR was abolished, the Jirga system in Fata would come to an end.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2016.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1253637/__trashed-134/

Gentlemen here are the FCR supporters. The waders, the jagirdars, the sardars and the elders have all abused their powers to accumulate their own wealth and have left the people dry and weak. Its time to end their madness.

@WAJsal @Fawad Masīd @Well.wisher @Zibago

 

[saiyan0321]

SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch on Thursday said that a report on FATA reforms, 2016, is expected to be presented in next meeting of the Federal Cabinet for approval.

Addressing a press conference here, Qadir Baloch said that the FATA Reforms Committee Chairperson was Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while its members were Minister for SAFRON Abdul Qadir Baloch, Minister for Law & Justice Zahid Hamid, National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor (KPK) and SAFRON secretary.

The report has already been presented to Prime Minister Office and discussed in a meeting of National Action Plan where it was agreed to make its finding public to further debate and develop national consensus.

He said the total population in FATA was around 7 to 8 million and comprised the agencies of Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan, besides the Frontier Regions of Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Lakki, Tank and DI Khan. Qadir Baloch said that the region faced the highest rate of poverty and lowest development indicators.

He said the sessions of the Senate and National Assembly also held a debate and suggestions from all stakeholders were incorporated to make recommendations more effective.

The minister said the committee pointed out that the consultation process brought forward four options of transformation of FATA which included maintaining of status-quo with minor changes; or granting special status to FATA like Gilgit-Baltistan; creating a separate province for FATA, or integrating FATA into KPK province. Integrating FATA into KPK made more sense keeping in view close horizontal linkages of agencies and FRs with adjacent KPK districts.

These trade and economic links were also reinforced by social and cultural consanguinity with FATA tribes, the committee recommendations said.

Abdul Qadir Baloch said that the FATA Reforms Committee also favoured repealing the existing Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) with new “Tribal Areas Rewaj Act” and the Jirga system. He said during the consultations, all the stakeholders expressed unanimity on ‘Rewaj Act’, terming it a part of their age-old tradition.

He said the provisions relating to collective responsibility in the FCR would be omitted in the new act, thereby making an individual responsible for his own acts.

The Jirga system would remain prevalent in criminal and civil disputes, while it was also proposed to codify the “Rewaj” in each agency.

He said the FATA reforms only be meaningful if the Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) return home and be assisted to reconstruct their property damaged during the operations, besides other infrastructure, adding that majority of TDPs have returned to their homes. The minister said the committee recognized that if appropriate reforms were not introduced early, the advantages obtained from the Zarb-e-Azb operation would be lost.

Well at least they are aware of the needs of the hour and how the success of the operation rests on the shoulders of politicians.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/blo...-be-presented-in-cabinets-next-meeting-qadir/



But the elders will not surrender power so easily. They will make things harder.


SHABQADAR: With the federal government set to present the proposed Fata reforms to the cabinet for approval, elders and a few lawmakers from the tribal areas seemed to be divided over the course that best serves the interests of the area.

The Fata Reforms Committee formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and headed by Adviser to PM Sartaj Aziz had proposed a set of ‘parallel and concurrent’ political, administrative, judicial and security reforms to prepare the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas for a merger into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

However, some are fiercely opposed to the idea of a merger. Those following this line of action held Jirgas in Mohmand and Bajaur tribal areas on Thursday.

Utman Khel and Tarkani tribesmen attended the tribal Jirga at Khar in Bajaur tribal area while elders in Mohmand held the Jirga at the press club in Ghalanai.

Later, the two Jirgas issued a set of identical demands, including imposition of Shariat in Fata, opposed the merger option and any changes to their ‘riwaj’, demanded an inquiry into the brawl that took place at a recent seminar on Fata, and asked K-P governor to take notice of how tribal elders are treated in Peshawar.

A large number of tribesmen from Tarkani and Utman Khel attended the Jirga, which was addressed by tribal elders, including Malak Abdul Nasir Khan, Malak Hifzurrehman, Malak Abdul Aziz, Malak Sultan Zeb. The elders were angry over a brawl at a seminar held in Peshawar last week where, according to them, they were “insulted” by a few parliamentarians and their ‘cronies’.

Demanding an inquiry into the incident, they asked the K-P governor to take notice of ‘insults’ hurled at the tribal elders at the seminar. They also showed their concern over “propaganda” being mounted against tribal elders and political administrations and said: “They are ready for accountability over corruption allegations.”

They also called for across-the-board accountability. “The government should investigate corruption allegations in schemes being initiated by lawmakers as well.”

They also opposed the idea of merging Fata into K-P and demanded imposition of Shariat in Fata “instead of the proposed reforms”. They also demanded impeachment of those elected representatives who have acted against the “will of tribesmen”.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2016.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1258075/mohmand-bajaur-jirgas-oppose-fata-k-p-merger/

These were the same elders that supported TTP when they gained power in FATA. They all care only about their own power and the moment they see that power being lost or being divulged to the common they start this. Its the same with the Jagirdars, sardars and waderas.

@WAJsal @Fawad Masīd @Khan_21 @pakistani342 @Well.wisher

 

[Kabira]

A large number of tribesmen from Tarkani and Utman Khel attended the Jirga, which was addressed by tribal elders, including Malak Abdul Nasir Khan, Malak Hifzurrehman, Malak Abdul Aziz, Malak Sultan Zeb. The elders were angry over a brawl at a seminar held in Peshawar last week where, according to them, they were “insulted” by a few parliamentarians and their ‘cronies’.

I have a feeling Peshawaris MNA are taking FATA people by granted. Lets be honest if given option then there will be 10 new provinces in Pakistan. People and leaders of their own region will always want more power for themselves and control of share in resources or so called NPC award.

I don't know how they expect FATA to merge by throwing insults?

 

[saiyan0321]

PESHAWAR: All Fata Political Parties Alliance has rejected the proposal for holding a referendum on merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and urged the government to announce the merger immediately to bring tribal regions into the mainstream.

The demand was raised at a seminar held by the alliance at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. Awami National Party leader Nisar Mohmand, Jamaat-i-Islami Fata chief Sardar Khan, PTI leader Iqbal Mohammad Afridi, PPP’s Jehanraiz Khan, JI activist Zarnoor Afridi, Pakhtunkhwa Olasi Tehreek leader Dr Said Alam Mehsud, Shahid Shah and members of civil society organisations shared their views on this occasion.

Through a joint communiqué the participants expressed dissociation from a peace conference, sponsored by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, regarding future of Fata in Peshawar on Dec 18, and asked the government to immediately announce merger of Fata with KP.

The participants also demanded announcement of a comprehensive financial package for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure in Fata. They also stressed the need for holding population census and local bodies elections in the tribal areas.

All Fata Political Parties Alliance announces boycott of JUI-F conference
The speakers called for abolition of the Frontier Crime Regulation. They lauded the endorsement of constitutional amendment bill moved by the Fata parliamentarians and called upon the government to immediately implement the recommendations of the Fata reforms committee to mitigate sufferings of the people.

They alleged that the development funds meant for uplift of tribal people were being embezzled. They urged the government to announce Rs100 billion package for Fata and declare it as tax-free zone to revive the trade and commercial activities in tribal regions.

Nisar Mohmand read out the jirga’s declaration and said that the alliance had disowned the JUI-F’s peace conference scheduled for Dec 18, and decided to hold protest rallies and demonstrations across Fata on the same day.

He alleged that the JUI-F’s event was based on anti-Fata agenda. He warned that if any political party created hurdles to the Fata-KP merger they would collectively opposed it.

Sardar Khan said that tribal people had been kept deprived of all fundamental rights due to FCR and some political figures were trying to create hurdles to repeal this law. He said that they would continue efforts for abolition of this black law.

He said that Fata was ignored in the NFC award though it was the fifth entity of the country.

Mr Mehsud said that Fata people had faced many hardships during the past about one decade, but the government was least bothered to mitigate their miseries.

Other speakers demanded a comprehensive relief package for rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in Fata, holding of census and LG elections and representation in the provincial assembly for Fata people.

Published in Dawn December 14th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1302247/govt-urged-to-announce-fata-kp-merger

Now here is what's going on. The grand jirga of tribal elders happened a few days ago where they said no to merger. There were some tribal elders who very openly supported the FCR.

At the same time we have the shaukat Aziz issue. A political and tribal elder gathering was happening where some tribal elders said no to merger while some supported the merger and the student president of FATA stood up and shouted down with FCR which led to fist fights. It was a complete sham. The administration of fata arrested shaukat Aziz on the complaint of the tribal elder.

This is the writ of the elder, the sardar, the wadera and the jagirdar. The merger is the only option lest we leave fata to the whims of cruel elders and terror loving moulvis like JUIF

PESHAWAR: Members of Fata Students Organisation (FSO) protested on Sunday against the arrest of the association’s president Shaukat Aziz and demanded his immediate release.

The protesters holding placards chanted slogans against Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Khan Mehsood and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -led provincial government.

Talking to The Express Tribune, association’s senior adviser Halim Orakzai claimed Afzal was arrested for chanting slogans against Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) at a function in Peshawar.

FATA student leader held for ‘protesting against FCR’

He also accused Peshawar’s deputy commissioner for making arrangements with the political administration to illegally detain Afzal, saying they were being benefited by the regulation.

General public is getting harassed because of it, he added. Orakzai vowed that the campaign against FCR will continue till its abolition and release of the student leader.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1260322/protesters-demand-release-fata-student-arrested-fcr/

@WAJsal @Well.wisher @Sandman @Fawad Masīd @pakistani342


In December the merger will be placed to be approved by the NA and senate.

 

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PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed unanimous resolutions in favour of the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and no objection certificate (NOC) for the foreign delegations visiting the province.

The session was chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Wednesday.

The first resolution was presented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Dr Haider Ali as the resolution was signed by MPA Sikander Khan Sherpao, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).

The resolution demanded the federal government to merge FATA into KP and gives all the resources and other facilities to the FATA people.

Senior Minister Sikander Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) said that the time has come that we give all rights to the FATA people, adding that FATA people were living with Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) law and the other Pakistanis were living in other laws.

He further added that this is 21st century and we should give all the rights to the FATA people which were available to other citizen of the country, adding that already the federal government has conducted survey and went to all agencies of FATA and take the views of Fata people for emerged in KP as all of them were agreed.

He informed that if FATA were emerged in KP then this would be a second big province of the country and then all the stakeholders will recognize the mandate of the assembly and its people.

Mufti Janan from Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam- Fazal (JUI-F) said that their party was not in favor of the merger of FATA in KP as the province had no power and capability that it will also raise voice for the FATA people.

"Our party has observations as the federal committee not went to the common people of FATA as they wants not to be emerged in FATA but wants a separate province where all the facilities were provided to them", Mufti added.

Another resolution was also presented by Dr. Haider Ali of PTI and said that yesterday this assembly passed the resolution that no NOC for the foreign delegates who visiting to KP but again the federal government not allowed the British High Commission delegation and demanded NOC for visiting to KP.

While wearing black ribbon from his hand he said that today all the members of provincial assembly wore this black ribbon from their hands to criticized the federal government decision.

He added that peace prevail in KP and now the investors wants to came to KP and invest here but the federal government playing tactics and discouraging the foreign investors to divert investment from KP to Punjab.

Mufti Fazli Ghafoor of JUI (F) said and criticized the provincial government that they spend more than three years in sit-inn protest and waste the time of the people of KP, adding that PTI government failed to depend the rights of KP people. He further said and asked that why in Council of Common Interest (CCI) meeting the KP Chief Minister and Finance Minister not highlighting these issues and why not they boycotted to fight for the people of KP.

He added that the CM KP and all the Ministers were not attending the assembly session, adding that the KP people give them vote that they can fight for their rights but the CM and the ministers were not sincere with the mandate of the KP people.


http://dailytimes.com.pk/khyber-pakhtunkhwa/15-Dec-16/kp-assembly-for-merger-of-fata-with-kp

 

[saiyan0321]

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• • Cabinet decides to postpone Fata reforms process
    Home / Today's Paper / Top Story / Cabinet decides to postpone Fata reforms process
    By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
    December 16, 2016
    Print : Top Story
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    ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet meeting on Thursday discussed the Fata Reforms Committee report in detail and deferred it for a few days.
    
    The government has also decided to engage all the political parties represented in parliament, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), on important and sensitive national issues for smooth sailing and orderly business of the administration. The policy to enter into clash with the opposition on any subject wouldn’t be followed since it could be counterproductive for the trends of faster pace of development and progress of the country.
    
    The decision was taken in the course of informal political discussion of the federal cabinet that continued for three quarters of an hour on Thursday after disposing the major agenda item of the cabinet meeting. It was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who spent a hectic day regarding his official engagements in the day. The meeting of the federal cabinet took place in the Prime Minister’s Office.
    
    The federal ministers and state ministers were present in the consultations while all government officials and non-members of the cabinet were asked to leave the cabinet room of the PMO.
    
    Highly-placed sources told The News that the members of the federal cabinet also discussed the return of the PTI in the National Assembly in the wake of its poor performance in the Supreme Court regarding its petition on the Panama Papers.
    
    Federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Zahid Hamid, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senator Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal and Special Assistant to the PM for Political Affairs Dr Syed Asif Saeed Kirmani took part in the discussion. The cabinet members also discussed the rumpus created by the PTI members in the National Assembly a day earlier, the sources said.
    
    Earlier, in the cabinet regular meeting, the government decided to hold further consultations on FATA reforms package. Later, briefing the media persons along with Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Abdul Qadir Baloch said the FATA Reforms Committee headed by Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will contact Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) to address their concerns on the reforms package.
    
    Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated the FATA Reforms Committee for formulating a comprehensive package for the tribal people. He, however, said that since it is an important initiative, therefore, all the relevant stakeholders will be taken on board before the finalisation of the report.
    
    Abdul Qadir Baloch said the reforms package envisages a phased merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said all the Fata parliamentarians as well as majority of people in the tribal areas support the idea of merger.
    
    He said the package also proposes a 10-year development plan for Fata in order to bring these areas at par with KP. He said funds for the development plan are proposed to be arranged from the federal divisible pool. He said as the matter will affect the provinces, therefore, it will be discussed with the provinces in the upcoming meeting of Council of Common Interests.
    
    The minister said that the reforms package was prepared after all inclusive talks with different segments of tribal people. For this purpose, he said, the committee held 16 jirgas. He said though in principle the JUI-F and PkMAP are not opposed to the package but they have certain reservations which will be removed through talks.
    
    Abdul Qadir Baloch said the tribal people are patriotic Pakistanis and they deserve the rights enjoyed by any other common Pakistanis. In her remarks, Marriyum Aurangzeb said Fata reforms have been topic of discussion in the past also but nobody gave it the final shape. She said credit goes to the present government that it has reached the stage to give final shape to the recommendations after completing the consultation process. She said it is a defining moment in the lives of tribal people and the day is not far when they will see implementation of the reforms package.
    
    The sources said that the discussion on Fata reforms was prolonged and the federal cabinet couldn’t take up other items on the agenda for the day. They have been deferred for next sitting of the cabinet.
    

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/172270-Cabinet-decides-to-postpone-Fata-reforms-process



Cabinet for removing JUI-F, PkMAP reservations on Fata reforms
December 16, 2016

ISLAMABAD - The government on Thursday decided to hold further consultations on the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) reforms package to evolve consensus before its implementation.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the federal cabinet held here with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair.

Coalition partners, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-Fazl) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) had reservations over the package finalised by the government.

Earlier, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who heads the committee on reforms package, had tabled the final report before the parliament. The committee recommended merger of the Fata into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Aziz had held meetings with the stakeholders before finalising the recommendations.

The cabinet meeting considered the 23-point agenda including report of the Fata Reforms Committee.

Other items on its agenda included setting up of a permanent secretariat of the Council of Common Interests, repatriation and management policy for Afghan refugees, Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, and consideration of draft agreements and memoranda of understanding with several friendly countries.

Briefing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch and Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the government had decided to satisfy the JUI-F and the PkMAP before starting the implementation process.

“The government has decided to hold further consultations on the package. There have been some reservations and we want to resolve those,” Baloch said.

He said the government did not want to impose its decisions on the people of the Fata. “We can take time for implementation. We are in no hurry. Once we have evolved consensus, we will go for the implementation,” Baloch said.

The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated the Fata Reforms Committee for “formulating a comprehensive package for the tribal people.”

But the prime minister said that it was important to hold consultations with the stakeholders who had reservations.

“The package would be finalised once everybody is happy with it. There is need to listen to all,” he quoted the prime minister as saying.

Baloch said the Fata Reforms Package recommended phase-wise merger of the tribal belt in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He said parliamentarians from Fata and majority of the people living in the tribal areas had supported the move to merge the belt into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“The government is still continuing consultations despite a majority decision,” Baloch said.

He said a 10-year development plan for the Fata was included in the reforms package to bring those areas at par with the KP.

The minister said the funds for the proposed development plan would be arranged from the federal divisible pool.

“There will be a meeting of the Council of Common Interests tomorrow (December 16) for discussion. This decision will affect the provinces, so they must be taken onboard,” he added. Baloch said the government engaged all the stakeholders in the discussions over the Fata reforms package.

He recalled that the committee held 16 tribal assemblies over the package. “The differences of the JUI-F and the PkMAP are not serious. They have different points of view on some points, which will be addressed,” Baloch said.

He said the government wanted to give equal rights to the people living in the tribal areas. “We want them to enjoy their rights as Pakistanis. They are patriotic Pakistanis and deserve their rights,” Baloch said.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that in the past the Fata reforms package had been a topic of discussion but nobody could give it a final shape.

“Our government can take credit that we took it to a final stage and are nearing its implementation. It is a big decision for the people living in the tribal areas and we want to satisfy all the stakeholders,” she maintained.

Aurangzeb said that the implementation process was not that far away.

“We are almost there. The implementation process will begin soon,” she claimed


http://nation.com.pk/national/16-De...ving-jui-f-pkmap-reservations-on-fata-reforms

Lo credit bad mai laina chawalo pehlay reform tu pass karo!!

@Fawad Masīd @Zibago @WAJsal

 

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KHAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F leaders on Saturday pledged to continue making efforts to replace the current governance system in the tribal areas with Islamic laws.

They made the announcement while addressing a public meeting here that was attended by people and party workers in large numbers.

Senior JUI leaders, including its Bajaur emir Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Haji Said Badshah and Ahmed Zeb Khan Advocate addressed the meeting and highlighted the party policy on the future governance system in Fata.

Explaining party stance on the proposed reforms in the tribal areas, the JUI leaders said the party was neither against the reforms and nor it supported the current colonial governance system in the region, but wanted that any change in the tribal areas should be introduced as per the wishes of people.

The JUI vowed that implementation of Islamic laws in the tribal areas was their priority as majority of people wanted such laws.

They believed that replacing FCR with country’s regular laws would not overcome the problems of tribesmen.

They also rejected the impression that merger of Fata with KP would boost the socioeconomic condition of tribesmen, vowing the JUI would continue struggle to make Fata a separate province.

On the occasion, hundreds of people, including tribal elders and workers of political parties announced to join the JUI.

SHOPS GUTTED: Two shops and a vehicle were burnt in a fire that broke out in Inayat Kallay Bazaar on Friday night, residents and local administration officials said.

They said the fire was caused by an electric short-circuit in a market situated along the bypass road, adding the gutted shops were selling automobile spare parts. A car parked inside in a shop was also destroyed in the incident.

Local people immediately rushed to the spot, preventing the blaze from reaching adjacent shops.

The local people alleged that they contacted the local administration officials to send fire tenders to the spot, but they didn’t.

Meanwhile, the shop owners claimed that they suffered a loss of Rs4 million in the incident. They said the car destroyed in the fire belonged to another person who had parked it for repair.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 201

http://www.dawn.com/news/1302977/jui-f-wants-islamic-laws-enforced-in-fata

Yes we are well aware of the " Islamic laws" your kind wants to implement like the terrorists which have nothing to do with Islam. FYI pakistan law is heavily Islamic law and slowly but surely lost of British law has been phased out especially from the laws that were in Islam.

The only law you jackasses wants to implement is one where you churn out brainwashed terrorists on innocent people while you and your fat leader eat halwa. I cant believe we have such characters sitting in a parliament.

 

[saiyan0321]

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl Fata chapter has announced it will launch a campaign against the proposed merger of the tribal region with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Head of the JUI Fata Mufti Abdul Shakoor told reporters here on Tuesday that the protest movement against the merger plan would begin from Bajaur on January 8.

He said rallies would be taken out in Khar, Bajaur’s administrative headquarters.

“According to the schedule, the rallies will be organised in Khyber Agency on Jan 15, Mohmand on Jan 29 and Kurram Agency on Feb 5. We will oppose the proposed merger at every forum,” he said.

The JUI-F leader said his party had opposed the Sartaj Aziz committee’s report on Fata reforms in the lower house of parliament and that majority of Fata parliamentarians had categorically stated that they had never made any demand for the Fata-KP merger.

He invited the Fata Political Alliance to hold talks with his party on the issue.

The alliance comprising several political parties is in favour of the merger of Fata with KP.

Abdul Shakoor said the Sartaj Aziz committee had violated its mandate as it was tasked to suggest recommendations for the political mainstreaming of Fata.

He urged the federal government to focus on the return of internally displaced persons to their homes in Fata, rehabilitation of militancy-affected people, and the reconstruction of infrastructure instead of creating controversies.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1304907/jui-plans-drive-against-kp-fata-merger


Man these moulvis have done absolutely nothing for this country.

 

[saiyan0321]

PRINT

PTI activists protest in Bajaur Agency on Wednesday against delay in Fata reforms. — Dawn


KHAR: Hundreds of tribesmen demonstrated here on Wednesday against the delay in implementation of the reforms in Fata.

The rally was organised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local chapter, where besides party activists, people belonging to different walks of life showed up in large numbers.

Holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against FCR and in favour of reforms in Fata, the protesters started marching from different areas of the agency and gathered at the bypass road in Inayat Kallay Bazaar.

PTI local leaders, Gul Zafar Khan, Mohammad Saleem Khan and Usman Mamondzai addressed the protesters, expressing concern over unnecessary delay in implementation of the proposed reforms in Fata despite the fact that Fata Reforms Committee had already submitted its recommendations.

They blamed the federal government for using delaying tactics in execution of the reforms process, saying the tribal people were disappointed over the delay in implementation of the reforms, which envisage merging Fata with KP and replacing the colonial FCR with the country’s regular laws.

The PTI leaders said FCR had ‘usurped’ their rights and ‘hampered’ the region’s development. They pointed out that the people of Fata were also the citizens of Pakistan, but they were kept backward because of FCR. They condemned the JUI-F, PkMAP and certain tribal elders for supporting the FCR and opposing the reforms in the tribal region.

The protesters vowed to intensify their campaign against the FCR across the agency to put pressure on the government to repeal the ‘draconian’ law.

The PTI leaders asked the people and workers of political parties to end their personal differences and play due role in early implementation of the reforms.

During the two hours of protest, the bypass road, one of the busiest arteries in the agency, remained closed to vehicular traffic.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1305120/tribesmen-stage-rally-against-fcr-in-bajaur

Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) FATA, Zar Noor Afridi has announced long march to press federal government for FATA reforms. The long march will be carried out in February 2017 during which a sit-in will also be staged in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad. The sit-in will be participated by thousands of tribesmen from all tribal agencies.

The demands of JI FATA are included the abolition of Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) and extension of the superior judiciary including Shariat Court, Supreme Court, High Court and also decisions through jirga system. The party instead of the extension of police to tribal area is demanding the strengthening of the traditional Khasadar and Levy Force and recruitment of 30,000 tribesmen in this regard.

JI has termed Rewaj Act as alternative of FCR, which it said is not acceptable to tribesmen any way. He said that some people in garb of referendum are supporting FCR, which want to keep the residents of FATA in dark. Zar Noor Afridi said that Article 248 of the Constitution has no space for referendum in FATA; rather it is for the jirga system. He said that tribesmen are announcing revolt against slavery under FCR, saying reforms have the issue of life and death for the tribesmen and will not withdraw from in any circumstances.

The party has termed the suspension of FATA reforms and any delay in it to the murder of the spirit of residents of the region, saying they are living backward since last 70 years. He demanded immediate issuance of notification for the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with immediate effect, conducting of census, local bodies' polls under provincial system 2017 and beside National Assembly also holding elections for provincial assembly in the next elections of 2018.

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/118064/

 

[saiyan0321]

LANDI KOTAL: A group of tribal parliamentarians have expressed satisfaction with the pace of deliberations on the proposed Fata reforms and said a major breakthrough would be achieved in the next meeting of the federal cabinet.

Giving details of their meeting with prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad on Wednesday, parliamentary leader of the group and Khyber Agency MNA Haji Shahji Gul told Dawn that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had abandoned his call for referendum on the Fata’s future after holding a meeting with five members committee of late.

He said the JUI-F chief had also approved of the proposed merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa though suggesting a different nomenclature as a ‘face-saving’ in view of his earlier opposition against the merger.

Mr. Gul said he was hopeful that the report of the reforms committee would be approved by the federal cabinet in the next meeting as the committee had successfully removed all reservations of Maulana Fazalur Rehman as was desired by the prime minister.

He said as the federal cabinet had no representation of tribal areas, there was no one there to counterbalance the arguments of JUI-F minister Akram Khan Durrani against the proposed reforms.

He however appreciated major political parties for supporting the Fata reforms report and said the reforms would happen without opposition.

Bajaur Agency MNA Shahabuddin Khan told Dawn that the people of Fata in general and tribal parliamentarians in particular could no more tolerate the blackmail of their ‘self-proclaimed sympathisers’ in the name of referendum and safeguarding of tribal customs and traditions.

He urged the federal government to show urgency in approving the reforms committee’s report and said if the approval didn’t come by March, then the report’s approval would suffer long delays due to the budget-making for the next fiscal by the federal government.

The MNA insisted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was a shrewd and seasoned politician, who always wanted to draw ‘some personal benefits from issues of national importance’. He said the JUI-F leader won’t call for referendum on the future of Fata and that the reforms committee report would have a smooth sailing in the next meeting of the federal capital.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday threatened to march on Islamabad over further delays in the implementation of the proposed Fata reforms.

JI Fata naib chief Zar Noor Afridi told Dawn that Frontier Crimes Regulation should be completed repealed and Fata should be merged with KP in line with the local residents.

He urged the federal government to extend the jurisdiction of superior courts to tribal areas besides legitimising tribal jirga for assisting the judiciary.

Mr. Afridi warned his party would stage a long march on the federal capital in early February if its demands were not met.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1305314/mps-expect-major-breakthrough-on-fata-reforms


The only reason he was holding out was bcz he didn't get a high enough price.