Islamabad: The Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded immediate political reforms in Pakistani tribal areas to bring peace and development in the region.
Talking to Online news agency, over publication of the fresh report of International Circes Group (ICG) regarding reforms in FATA, the ANP Information Secretary, Zahid Khan said without political reforms in the tribal areas peace in the region is impossible.
He said that the Political Party Act was partially extended to FATA but political reforms are still incomplete, adding that the FCR of colonial times is still in place and the tribal people have no right to be elected for a provincial assembly.
“The wishes of the local people must be addressed in carrying out the reforms. They should be allowed to be integrated with KP or should be given the status of a separate province after assessing tribal people’s opinion,” he said.
Khan said that as an immediate step, a process of elections of representatives from FATA to the provincial assembly of KPK should be introduced, so that problems of the people of tribal areas could be addressed urgently.
“But without creating environment and condition for political activities in FATA, political moves in the area would be difficult and the issue should be concentrated,” he further said.
There was Malik system in the areas and they (Malik) were either killed or intimidated, so political process come to standstill and insecurity as well as backwardness are ruling FATA now.
The political reforms would not only trigger peace but would also kick off development in KP and the tribal areas.
The ANP leader said that FATA was made a buffer zone by the then imperial power (UK) and its status remains the same even in the 21st century that is injustice with the people, who has been deprived of basic human rights for long.
Regarding the regional situation in connection to reforms in the areas, he said that Afghanistan may oppose change of status of FATA but all the regional countries should know that reforms in the tribal areas would positively affect all of them and would bring prosperity to all the neighboring countries.
For long ANP was demanding reforms in the areas and calling for steps for development in the tribal belt, he said.
“Now it is the time to come to action by taking concrete steps without any delay,” he concluded.
ANP is part of the ruling party in Centre and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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