Daily Times

Compounding the confusion is a trait of ill politics and when wrapped into sentimentality through demagogy it turns really ugly and misleading. Currently, the hapless people of FATA are subjected to such cacophony in the name of their rights and getting justice for them.

Initially, the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) was devised for the North West to the South West frontier regions from which the provinces of British Balochistan and erstwhile NWFP were later niched out. However, FATA was retained by the British under the FCR for strategic purposes. Ironically, the state of Pakistan not only maintained the status quo after independence but further up scaled its strategic status due to the nature of relationship with Afghanistan and the then USSR. The British already had set a precedent of mainstreaming the above mentioned regions by not merging but creating separate administrative entities by abolishing the FCR to expedite the development of the areas.

No doubt the people of FATA suffered enough, particularly when the British turned their land into a strategic black hole. But the question is, why a single obscure option is presented as compensation and solution to the problems currently faced by the people of FATA for all the wrong done to them? But more questionable is the timing and nature of the reforms.

So far the proponents of merger could not explain the contours of the merger ie what would be the status of the region in the province? Apart from the draconian sections of the FCR that is a contravention to fundamental human rights, abysmal backwardness ranging from low human development index, poor or non-existence of infrastructure, health and education facilities and other services place the region on the lowest scale of development index would be developed.

But, keeping in mind the magnitude of backwardness and deprivation of FATA since ages, how can a province which already has its own black corners in terms of poor governance and backwardness e.g Tank, an adjacent district to South Waziristan, Indus Kohistan, Batagram and Chitral be developed?

The state of Swat was one of the most developed areas in terms of infrastructure, education and health but could not maintain any of those characteristics, even its environment after merger with the province as a district in 1969. While keeping in mind our track record and political culture, who can guarantee that special funds earmarked for FATA would not be syphoned to other areas of choice of the chief minister and other cabinet members?

Besides, many of our mainstream intelligentsia assume that FATA will turn into Peshawar, Mardan or Abbottabad after the merger. So far, the merger plan does not elaborate on the question of administrative and legal arrangements. The Rewaj Act in the FATA Reforms Committee’s report hinted that FATA would be placed under PATA, pushing it further into retrogression. That means, it would be a new form of FATA under the PATA.

Moreover, like the security and foreign policy, particularly with the neighbouring states, FATA also remained the exclusive domain of the security establishment and no such attempt is possible without their preference for a certain consideration fitting into their strategic puzzle. As mentioned, FATA and its people are suffering since ages but we never witnessed such push for change in the name of reforms in the past. Are the proposed reforms for the welfare of the FATA people or to change its strategic dimension due to the emerging new security and strategic environment?

The reform agenda was initiated simultaneous to the Zarb-e-Azab which was a like full fledged war. Use of air force and heavy artillery forced the people of FATA, particularly of Waziristan, to run for their life. Resultantly a substantial population of FATA was displaced and forced to live in camps. This provides enough evidence that it was a top down approach with specific objectives.

The self-appointed saviours of FATA presenting themselves as its representatives further make the process dubious. An anchorperson on a private TV channel, whose forefathers migrated from FATA is one example. Unfortunately, he used the channel as a weapon against alternate voices. Two weeks ago he gave a one sided speech for 15 minutes regarding FATA, maligning those who were opposing the merger option as anti reforms and presenting opinions as facts. Ironically, currently some anchorpersons in the electronic media seem more powerful than political leaders and government, particularly when carrying out specific assignments.

One of his arguments was that currently the people of FATA are considered terrorists everywhere in the country. This is not a problem faced only by the people of FATA but people of Swat are also suspected everywhere. There are ubiquitous security check posts on entry into FATA where one can witness long queues of vehicles. Swat is a similar case.

Currently, ‘Action in Aid of Civilian Powers’ is enforced in FATA, which over rules FCR of FATA, as well as in Swat and Malakand Division of PATA. But the ace journalist never questioned why such extraordinary legal measures were not reversed, at least in Swat, after seven years of the military operation. Or should Swat be merged again somewhere for that matter?

Out of 17 members of parliament from FATA, only two MNAs are supporting the merger option. Why are the other 15 MPs silent? If anyone knows about internal situation and power dynamics, silence is not agreement but dissent in FATA. Anybody returning to his village in FATA will never participate in an event or express opinion that can go against the wishes of the powers to be.

Similarly, all the vocal voices in support of merger are those whose forefathers migrated from FATA or others holding only domiciles of FATA but not born or bred there. They were jokingly referred as ‘Coca Cola tribal’ in Peshawar because burger was not so common at that time. The term merger became a fashionable statement for them without knowing or understanding its contours or consequences.

Instead of putting the cart before the horse, it is necessary to resettle the displaced people, expedite the process of compensation for their destroyed properties and carry rehabilitation. It is also imperative to strike down the draconian sections of the FCR to create a conducive political environment to enable the people of FATA to express their view freely without fear of deciding their future in any manner they wish to.

The writer is a political analyst hailing from Swat. He tweets at @MirSwat

Published in Daily Times, October 26^th 2017.