Daily Times

Lahore: A sit-in staged in the federal capital seeking action on Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) merger with Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa ended on Monday after representatives of the demonstrators met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Many protesters remained unsatisfied with the assurances, highlighting the need for immediate action.

The protesters who were demanding abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and FATA’s merger with KP included political activists from various different parties as well as FATA residents.

While the sit-in failed to get the mainstream electronic media’s attention, social media, especially Twitter, remained abuzz all day on Tuesday with posts expressing solidarity with the protesters and their cause.

Twitter users also criticised the mainstream electronic media for not giving enough coverage to the sit-in.

Activist Mohsin Dawar? tweeted, “A complete black out of #FataDharna by Pak media once again proved that Pukhtoons hardly matter in this state. #TakhteLahore ka Pakistan.”

Activist Jibran Nasir? tweeted, “1000s gathered at D Chowk for #FATADharna and still news channels limited coverage to tickers. Media hurts itself when it loses objectivity.”

Another user Sohaib Farrukh? tweeted, “Absolutely disappointing attitude displayed by our media. They waste time showing useless shows but didn’t cover the #FataDharna. #shame.”

Journalist Mohammad Taqi tweeted,? “Depriving millions of #Pashtun people of their fundamental human & political rights for 70 years is simply criminal #FATADharna #Pakistan”.

Journalist Suddaf Chaudry? said, “Why hasn’t there been more mainstream coverage of #FataDharna by #Pakistani media. This marginalisation of a society needs to be covered.”

Defence analyst Asad Munir? said in a tweet, “The decision about FATA merger with KP was taken 41 years ago in 1976, still not implemented #FATAReforms #FATADharna.”

ANP Senator Afrasiab Khattak? also took to the social media to express disappointment at the delay. “Failure in integrating FATA in state system hasn’t only made people of FATA but also people of the region victims of terrorism #Fatadharna”.

Twitter user Brashna Kasi? tweeted, “FATA belongs to Pakistan as much as the rest of provinces do. It’s a shame after 70 years constitution is still not extended there #FATAdharna”. Activist Dr. Jamshaid? said, “Existence of FATA is undeniable proof of a state where none are equal. 70 years of being left to the wolves, foreign & domestic! #FATADharna.” Tweeter Muhammad Usama Khan? said, “Very disheartening to see how little focus had been given to #FataDharna. Media walon their is a Pakistan outside the big cities too.” Youth activist Arshad Afridi? said, “Maulana Fazlurehman won’t finish a sentence without talking about 73’s constitutional but doesn’t want it implemented in fata. #FataDharna”.

Published in Daily Times, October 11^th 2017.