In November, 2015 Pakistan government decided to introduce FATA Reforms for which committee was comprised of five people, Mr. Sirtaj Aziz Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zafar Iqbal Jhagra KP governor, Lt Gen. [Retd] Abdul Qadir Baloch Minister for SAFRON, Mr. Zahid Hamid Minister for Law and Justice, Lt Gen. [Retd] Nasser Khan Januja National Security Advisor and Mr. Muhammad Shehzad Arbab Secretary of SAFORAN Formed committee held meeting and compiled report “Report of committee on FATA Reforms 2016”- report encouraged FATA reforms however it did not account for reservation over FATA reforms by Pashtuns.
Historically, FATA has its own system to govern the law in FATA known as REWAJ means customs and Jirga system in which FATA maintained its own independency despite FATA shared its four steps in legislation and governing like defense, currency, foreign policy and communication with Pakistan.
FATA has been following its own system, not bound to follow constitution of Pakistan.
It is first time in the history of Pakistan that civil government has officially announced FATA Reforms even though previous governments tried to initiate reforms for FATA.
Report of FATA reforms has emphasized on Terrorism, quoted Tehreek Taliban – to eradicate terrorism in FATA, these reforms will helpful to fight against terrorism.
“No one understand the reals spirit of peaceful land which has had ancient history of Buddhism – how its own people can follow terrorism” asks Malik Achakzai researcher and political writer. He strongly rejected thought of terrorism quoted against Pashtuns and FATA, given reference of Osama Bin Laden who was found in Abbottabad under the umbrella of ex-dictator Prevez Musharraf. Punjab has safe haven for Taliban even has been producing extremism indeed Mullah Umer and Akhter Mansoor were found in metropolitan city of Karachi. It is useless comment that because of terrorism activities, FATA reforms has been introduced. Moreover, they gave excuse of poverty in FATA – I can show you many areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where you will be able to see no hospitals, no schools and no basic facilities over there.”
Malik Achakzai criticized that how could government go against promise which was made by Jinnah Sahib, Pakistan state that “They cannot make ordinance for FATA, nor would army camp exist in FATA.” He wondered, Pakistan government had supported rights of Kashmiris and was denying rights of FATA as an independent state.” He further said that “Terrorists were brought or settled in FATA by Pakistan state – local citizens had been suffered through terrorism. “Government has no interest for FATA citizens, introduced brand of FATA reforms in order to keep its involvement in Afghanistan through FATA and Sehwan Blast was an excuse to control all borders – furthermore, they wanted to ensure Durand line”, said Malik Achakzai.
On question of report being public on FATA reform, Malik A. asked that FATA had one crore population – how limited amount of people represented one crore population.
“Darwesh Afridi teaches at University of Peshawar said that FATA reforms is little hope for local citizens because army is over there and human rights has been suspended. Our citizens have been humiliated by military operations – now they want to survive even FATA reforms hardly bring change for citizens. “Quetta Shura is not in FATA – what government says about it, asks Darwesh Afridi. Let me remind you that Mr. Sartaj Aziz himself admitted that they had influence on Taliban even though Prevez Musharraf said that they created Taliban to defeat other.”
He showed his doubt on implementation of FATA reforms that “how it worked when FATA reforms had governor, federal and Rewaj – how would work independently, totally confused and too difficult to implement in FATA.”
Muhammad Usman Kakar, senator [Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party] said, “Our party has opposed it and government will realized that they have made a mistake.”He talked about FATA situation that Not a single rape case reported in FATA and non-Muslims are safe in FATA than across country. “It was a Joke – everyone wanted to merge FATA in KP, FATA remained independent state. If anyone wants to emerge areas in KP then they can get their own land from Balochistan, said Muhammad Usman Kakar.
He added that “FATA reforms was not plan by civil government – actually was a plan by military to impose on FATA. No difference between dictatorship and current government.”
M. Usman Kakar criticized over role of media that “Media has been warned, not to show criticism over FATA reforms. Therefore, no one is discussing critically discussion over FATA Reforms.”
Whereas, Afrasiab Khattak retired senator [Awami National Party] and analyst of region affairs, given different point that “FATA reforms basically enunciates principles and guidelines for reforms that are to be translated into legislation and administrative action over a period of five year. It approves some major steps for mainstreaming FATA. They include merger of FATA in KP, bringing the area under the jurisdiction of the country’s judiciary, holding election of the provincial assembly of KP in FATA in 2018 and providing 3 per cent of NFC funds to FATA. The areas of concern in the report are giving main role of implementation of reforms to powers with internal in the status quo the so called Rewaj Act which is to replace FCR and weak machines for monitoring.”
Afrasiab Khattak narrated historically view that “good part of the FATA population already live in Pakhtunkhwa and they are well integrated. Peshawar has become their city. It is particularly after the IDP phenomena. Over the last 150years every political has gradually developed integration and dependence, a relationship that different political agencies do not enjoy among themselves. By there is a precedent of FATA merger in the province. FATA was merged the Lahore best province of West Pakistan when One Unit was created for countering the population weightage of East Bengal. So, why cannot they be merged in a predominantly Pashtun province with Peshawar as capital.”
Veengas is Karachi based journalist
and tweets @veengasJ
