Daily Times

JAMRUD: Hundreds of tribesmen demonstrated on Monday against the delay in implementation of the reforms in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) saying the tribal people are disappointed due to delay in implementation of the reforms, which envisaged merger of FATA into KP and replacing the colonial FCR with the country’s regular laws.

The rally was organized by Khyber Siyasi Ittehad while activists of political parties and people belonging to different walks of life showed up in large numbers.

They were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the FCR and in favour of reforms in FATA. The protesters started marching from different areas of the agency and gathered at the Jamrud main bazaar.

A leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, Shah Faisal, addressed the protesters and expressed concern over what he believed as unnecessary delay in implementation of the proposed reforms in FATA despite the fact that FATA Reforms Committee had already submitted recommendations.

The speakers accused the federal government of using delaying tactics in implementing as tribal people were disappointed.

Pakistan People’s Party Hazrat Wali leaders said the FCR had ‘usurped’ their rights and ‘hampered’ the region’s development. He condemned the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and certain tribal elders after accusing them of supporting the FCR and opposing the reforms in the tribal region.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Khan Rehman asked the people and workers of political parties to sink personal differences and play a role in early implementation of the reforms.

The bypass, one of the busiest arteries in the agency, remained closed to vehicular traffic for almost two hours during the protest.

Consumers stage protest against dysfunctional new feeder: The consumers on Monday staged a protest against ‘what they argued’ not making functional a new feeder established in a Grid Station in the district. Member Provincial Assembly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Fazkhre Azam and local government representatives were leading the protesters. The protesters gathered in Bannu and staged the protest.

The speakers said that development work on the new feeder had been launched some three years ago and the construction work was completed.