PESHAWAR: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao), Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has welcomed the FATA reforms saying that it would have far-reaching bearings on the lives of the tribal people. However he said that more steps would be needed to bring the law in conformity with the Constitution and aspirations of tribal people.
In a statement here, he said that notwithstanding the amendments in Frontier Crimes Regulation was a good step in the right direction, however it was not enough as more effective and drastic measures were needed to bring the tribal into the mainstream. He lauded that almost all political parties and civil society groups had played vital role in changing the regulation in FATA. PPP-S Chief said that the FCR was a black law that had been promulgated to accomplish the colonial designs but it was very unfortunate to keep the tribal people in darkness for long time. He continued that there was a lot of political pressure on the government to amend the FCR which was ultimately done. But, he added, further effective steps are required to bring an end to the clouds of the colonial era that had kept the tribal people under its yoke. He said that despite the euphoria on the amendment in FCR, the promulgation of FATA /PATA Regulation, 2011, prior to these amendments, would badly hinder the workability of the former. He regretted that with the promulgation of the new Regulations wherein sweeping powers had been given to the interning authority and the law of evidence was excluded the tribal areas might be pushed into anarchic situation. He viewed that only the promulgation of harshest law was not mean to an end but the issues were needed to be dealt in a political manner. He added that the government would have to adopt liberalization policy in accordance with the aspirations of tribal people.
He observed that the tribal masses should be given sense of ownership and patriotism so as to bring them in the mainstream enabling to play role in national building. He demanded that the local government system should be introduced in the tribal areas so as properly impart democratic training them at the gross root level and put them on the path of development. He also demanded a comprehensive package for the socio-economic uplift, administrative and economic reforms for the of the tribal areas. Online
