Daily Times

Back in May 2017 we saw the merger of erstwhile tribal areas, however, it was done in haste but was appreciated by the peace loving people across Fata. Prior to the merger the tribesmen were promised to annually allocate around 100 billion rupees for developmental work in formerly tribal region. However, now the formerly tribal region is even deprived of its own 20billion ADP, let alone the injection of newly designated fund of 100billion.

Presently, the erstwhile tribal region can be called as a lawless region, for the Peshawar high court has struck down the Fata Interim Governance Regulation on grounds that it’s least at par with the modern concept of law.

The reason for FIGR being chucked out was the fact that a single bureaucrat, deputy commissioner, command all the powers i.e judicial and executive. In other words current state of former Fata is even worse than its earlier state as before the merger it was at least ruled through the notorious law called Frontier crime regulation. However, right now there is no legal mechanism exist in formerly tribal region.

On top of it the incompetence of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa government speaks for itself in managing the post-merger transition of the erstwhile tribal region. Several committees have been formed under various individuals and then dissolved. Such an approach sketch a gloomy picture of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa government’s seriousness and capacity to administer the post-merger developments related to former Fata.

After observing the reckless handling of post-merger progress by the people at the helm of affairs, now the local tribesmen are ruing over their support for merger. Some are of the view that now again by design things are being turned towards anarchy and chaos

Apart from it, the current chief minister of Khyber Pukhtunkhawa, Mahmood Khan, has not bothered himself to have a single visit of the newly integrated tribal districts. This put a question mark over his concern regarding the plight of tribesmen in ex-Fata.

After observing the reckless handling of post-merger progress by the people at the helm of affairs, now the local tribesmen are ruing over their support for merger. Some are of the view that now again by design things are being turned towards anarchy and chaos. As no one is paying heed to the woes and sobs of tribesmen who are anticipating drastic reforms and developments in their backward region.

To end, currently the erstwhile Fata is left at the mercy of few individuals in kpk government’s cabinet. There is least progress on matters related to introducing reforms in this most sensitive region. Ergo the people at the helm of affairs should take some time out to solemnly oversee the advancement in transformation of the formerly tribal areas.

The writer can be contacted at asifmahsud44@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, December 31^st 2018.