PESHAWAR: South Waziristan: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief organizer for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Dost Muhammad Mehsud met PTI chairman Imran Khan to discuss the issue of Fata reforms and derive a viable framework to ensure streamlining of Fata as per the expectations of the tribesmen.
It was learnt that the PTI chief Imran Khan agreed on provision of a separate quota in federal jobs and professional colleges for Fata would be ensured. “This will help in dispelling the false impression created by some critics regarding the merger of Fata, claiming this would deprive the tribal youth of the separate federal quota,” Dost Muhammad Khan said.
“Secondly, a special grant of 100 billion rupees would be allocated for the infrastructure development like schools, health care and communication facilities,” he added.
The tribal leader also maintained that local body elections will be conducted immediately after the merger of Fata with KP and all development funds will be utilized through local bodies,” Dost Muhammad added.
The meeting rejected the recently held census in fata and called for new census to determine the population figures which have crossed 10 million.
The PTI leader also expressed serious apprehensions at the ongoing survey of the damaged houses and buildings in Fata and alleged that record corruption and wrong doings have been committed thus causing serious apprehension among the tribesmen.
The PTI leaders called for authentic survey and the amount to be raised to 5 million for full damaged and 2.5 million for partial damaged houses.
They called for the audit of Fata development funds for the last 15 years and agreed that due care be taken regarding the documentation of the local lands so that the rights of the locals could be protected.
Strict vigilance be exercised to avoid issuance of fake domicile cards to outsiders. The meeting called upon the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa to announce a general amnesty for all those people who took up arms against the state in the wake of 9/11. The government should make arrangements for the return of the internally displaced persons from Fata who went to Afghanistan in the wake of the army operation in Fata.
Moreover, the leaders demanded the release of innocent tribal people languishing in internment centers and jails for the last many years without trials.
“Such positive steps from the Army would go a long way in cementing close bonds with the tribal people who are patriotic Pakistanis and have rendered immense sacrifices for the cause of Pakistan,” Dost Muhammad Mehsud added.
It is pertinent to mention that meeting called for provision of a package similar to the one offered in Balochistan, for the tribal youth in order to amalgamate them into the national mainstream. They resolved to foil any expected delaying tactics on Fata reforms. Imran Khan directed Dost Muhammad Mehsud to undertake a visit of 7 tribal agencies and Fata in order to re-organise PTI Fata along strong lines to sweep the forthcoming polls there.
Published in Daily Times, December 13th 2017.
