Despite attempts to break the GoP’s discrimination against the region, local political activists from all parties are still trying to push for peaceful reform.
Demo demands Political Parties Act implementation in Fata
Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Political Alliance (FPA) Monday staged a protest demonstration for the implementation of Political Parties Act (PPA) in the Fata in front of the Peshawar Press Club, while submitted a memorandum with the government officials in the Governor’s House.
The protestors were led by the leaders of Fata Political Alliance including Malak Waris Khan and Farhad Shahab, PPPP, Haji Iqbal Afridi, TI, Zahir Shah, PML-Q, Imran Afridi and Abdur Raheem Afridi of ANP, Zar Noor Afridi, JI, Mufti Ijaz, JUI and Syed Wali Shah of PML-N.
Holding banners, placards and their parties’ flags, the protestors were shouting slogans in favour of extension of the Political Parties Act to the tribal regions.
Later on, the protestors marched towards the Governor’s House, where the leaders hailing from the tribal belt presented memorandum to the government officials at the Governor’s House.
The memorandum stated that despite the fact that eight millions tribals had rendered great sacrifices for Pakistan, but they had been exploited since 1947 through draconian laws like Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
“Despite the passage of 60 years, the people of Fata have been deprived of their basic rights which proved the rulers’ apathy,” it stated.
The memorandum maintained that Political Parties Act 1960 and the Political Party Ordinance 2002 were not yet extended to Fata due to which freedom of expression was barred resulting in the exploitation of basic human rights in the tribal areas.
Referring to the role of a political agent in the tribal regions, Fata Political Alliance mentioned that a political agent being a king and dictator of the Agency, had been enjoying colossal powers including judiciary, executive and legislature.
“**There is no audit and accountability system in any department in the Fata as a result massive embezzlement has been taking place,” FPA stated, adding in contrast, the people of Fata were living a miserable life as unemployment and poverty were getting momentum with each passing day. **
Pointing towards other issues, it stated that literacy rate was going down; lack of clean drinking water and health facilities had made the lives of people miserable.
The association further alleged that bureaucracy had grabbed billions of rupees in the name of education and developmental activities that was yet to be carried out saying the only way to pull the tribal people out of the crises was to implement the Political Parties Ordinance 2002 in Fata.
