Following the recommendations of the special committee on the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) reforms, which included the merger of the tribal region with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a group of elders from the Khyber Agency has shown their opposition to the plan. Instead of the merger, the local elders from the region have urged the government to form an independent FATA legislative council to decide the future of the tribal belt. Haji Bazar Gul Afridi, a tribal elder, told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was unacceptable to tribal people. He said that the proposed legislative council should be formed to legislate on the tribal region’s future in line with the local social and political traditions. He added that the legislation and policies on FATA should be made in light of local traditions and customs. The elder also called for the abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), and said that the unlimited powers of the political agents should be reduced to overcome injustices. The other main contention was the extension of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and high courts to FATA region. Haji Bazar said that the residents knew very well how to resolve their issues through a jirga system. He added that the tribal people want the constitutional protection of their traditional tribal jirga and customs. He said keeping in view the damages caused by the prolonged war against terrorism in FATA the region should be included in the next National Finance Commission Award, while a Rs 100-billion financial package should be announced for it. It must be taken into consideration if the group is opposing the merger just for the sake of opposition, or due to some personal interests, or the demands are justified. Whatever the case may be, government cannot simply ignore their demands. These tribal leaders are highly revered in their region and have been responsible for the functioning of a system that has governed the region for decades. There is no argument against the abolishment of the FCR, and it should be done away immediately, but negotiations should be held on the extension of the jurisdiction of courts to the area of under the constitution of Pakistan. The reforms committee had suggested that the jirga system would stay for the time being and will be reformed in phases. The committee members should brief the tribal elders in detail on all the aspects of the reforms recommended by it. While it is unfortunate that the region is still decades behind in development aspect, and being governed by centuries-old laws, the local traditions and customs must be respected. However, the tribal leaders should also be informed to give some space where there is not any other possibility left. Lastly, the region has been ignored for far too long. The demands for the development of the region cannot be disputed in any way. Government should focus on the construction of houses, schools and health facilities for the rehabilitation of the IDPs at the earliest. This is the region that has been most affected by the war on terror and deserves special attention of the authorities for the rehabilitation process. *