Daily Times

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) which share a long border with Afghanistan –originally consisted of five agencies: South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Kurram, Khyber and Malakand; and six frontier regions (FR), which are connected with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, in 1970 Malakand was made a division, and Bajaur, Mohmand and Orakzai agencies were added to the FATA in 1973 and 1975 respectively. FATA is spread over 27,200 square kilometres, and has a population of about seven million.

FATA since 1901 has been ruled by the British-implemented law, the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). After the birth of Pakistan, the people of the area raised their voice against this brutal law. According to Articles 1 and 2 of the 1973 Constitution, FATA is a part of Pakistan, and according to Articles 51, 59 and 247, it is under the direct executive of the president.

After the Army Public School massacre on December 16, 2014, our military and government decided to completely eradicate the roots of terrorism and extremism from the country. In this regard, the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) was created, and there has been progress on many of the points laid down. However, one of the most important points of NAP — the 12th point on reforms in FATA — has apparently been forgotten. The administrative, political, social and economic needs of Pakhtuns living in the colonial construct of FATA have been forgotten by those who created NAP.

The FCR contradicts the Constitution of 1973, and there are certain clauses that violate the fundamental rights of the tribal people, such as the right to appeal detention, the right to legal representation, and the right to present reasoned evidence. Recently, parliamentarians from FATA submitted the FATA Reforms Bill in the National Assembly, and demanded the integration of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The bill has its supporters as well as detractors, both from within and outside the tribal areas. Within FATA, there are three different schools of thought who have their own views on the issue. The first school of thought that includes representatives of the areas is in favour of integration of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The second school of thought demands a separate province for the people of the area. And the third one wishes to have an autonomous tribal council. However, the majority of the tribal people are in favour of merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Several committees had been formed in the past, and many reforms made to the FCR, but they lacked implementation. On November 8, 2015, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif formed a five-member committee to finalise reforms in the tribal areas. Unfortunately, all members of the afore-mentioned committee are non-residents of the tribal areas, and none of them is from FATA. It is strange that no representation has been given to the people who have been raising their voices against the brutal FCR law.

Pakistan came into being in 1947, and after passage of more than 67 years, our country is moving towards progress. Almost the entire country enjoys facilities of modern technology. However, our government has completely forgotten FATA. The people of these areas have a great role in the freedom movement.

In war against terrorism tribal people leave their homes, and sacrifice their life, assets and everything else for the sake of their homeland. However, they still suffer from issues like poverty, illiteracy, lack of proper health facilities and others necessity of life. There is not a single university and medical college in the whole of FATA, and literacy rate is decreasing day by day. According to the latest report, literacy rate in FATA is 37 percent for boys, and 11 percent for females, which is very low as compared to the literacy rate of the rest of the country. In the last few years, more then 1,500 schools — for both boys and girls — were destroyed by terrorists, and most of them have still not been reconstructed by government. Most of the bright students do not continue their studies due to lack of financial support from their families.

One of the most important questions regarding these areas is that if government has conducted elections for the National Assembly in FATA, why cannot it conduct local government elections in the region? Having a local government is very important because the old system has almost completely collapsed, and there is no other way for the people to get their rights

Merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or making FATA an independent province are two possible options; choosing one requires a detailed administrative analysis. The decision to opt for either should be determined through objective feasibility study, not mere general opinions and vested interests. The future of FATA will shape the future of entire region. Citizens of FATA have been isolated, used as strategic assets and made to live under the FCR without any modern amenities. And therefore, it is not surprising that they have fallen prey to flawed policies. An integrated and developed FATA is the only way forward to reward their sacrifices and secure future generations.

The writer is a member of Pildat Youth Parliament, Pakistan. He can be reached at rafimahsud704@yahoo.com and on Twitter at Rafi.mahsud@twitter