Can someone please tell me what authority Pakistan has in the Tribal areas of the NWFP?
If they are included in Pakistan then why doesn’t the constitution of Pakistan or the law hold any importance there? Why did they chose to be with Pakistan, rather than with Afghanistan?
Do they have elected/pointed members that sit in the assemblies of Pakistan?
The Frontier Province was divided into two areas when the British attempted to rule it, the settled areas and the tribal areas. In the Tribal areas large numbers of Indian troops were stationed to keep the peace, besides that they appointed political agentswho through money and and manipulation kept the peace. there were no Judges or development as the tribes were suspicious of the British and there was frequent fighting. The british felt by using money and manipulation it would cost less to keep control of the tribes. now the area is fairly large and the border very porous and many of the tribes were artifically separated from cousins and relatives by the imposition of the Durand Line.
When Pakistan was created the tribes agreed to support Pakistan, Quaid e Azam in exchange offered them auonomy to live life as they have done before and withdrew Armed forces from their areas. Each Tribal Agency is controlled by a political Agent who is pretty mcuh only answerable to the governor of NWFP and the Federal minister for Safron
the araes are governed by the Frontier Crimes Regulation, a leftover from the British area, the destruction of peoples homes and their relatives as punishment for "bad behaviour" is still common. The Tribal areas do have MNA's and Senators, till 97 they were elected by the Maliks and the MNA position was bought. People who demonstrate against the government or against the system tend to be arrested without appeal. People imprsioned in the tribal areas cnnot even appeal to the Supreme Court.
Another misconception is about smuggling, the tribal areas are not the major source of smuggling, it is on record that the bulk is from Bonded warehouses. If you want some information about the system in the tribal areas I would recommend you check out the Pakistan human Rights Commission's annual report.
Zakk
Can we have sources of your opinion?
This isn’t entirely fair, but the Pakistan Human Rights Comission web sites down…
Administration of justice in the FATA normally is the responsibility of tribal elders and maliks, or leaders. They may conduct hearings according to Islamic law and tribal custom. In such proceedings, the accused have no right to legal representation, bail, or appeal. The usual penalties consist of fines, even for murder. However, the Government’s political agents, who are federal civil servants assigned to tribal agencies, oversee such proceedings and may impose prison terms of up to 14 years. Paramilitary forces under the direction of the political agents frequently conduct punitive actions during enforcement operations. For example, in raids on criminal activities, the authorities have damaged surrounding homes as extrajudicial punishment of residents for having tolerated nearby criminal activity (see Section 1.f.).
In remote areas outside the jurisdiction of federal political agents, tribal councils occasionally levy harsher, unsanctioned punishments, including flogging or death by shooting or stoning. On July 16, the HRCP reported the execution by tribal leaders of an Afghan man accused of murder. The tribesmen reportedly condemned the accused without due process and executed him by blindfolding him and shooting him in front of a crowd. The Government has made no efforts to investigate the incident, and is unlikely to do so.
Therefore, tyranny is the order of the day in tribal areas? IC. Nice write-up Zakk, thanks.
Duh!
Now you giving providing me source of Pakistan Human Rights Association.
Where the hell these people were when Gang Rape was ordered by these Tribes? 
Try denying that → Why wouldn’t these Human Rights Workers slam them, too instead of Pak Govt.?
I am from NWFP
I would tell u my dear I am disgusted by the idea of Tribal areas I think musharraf should go in and bust the Bas***** as they take our electricity from WAPDA and still refuse to pay the electric bill .....thank God that I was educated and come to this consensus and mostly the pathans of NWFP agree with me its just the pathans of these tribal areas stand to say no............
btw i visited one guy like this 20 minutes from peshawar and I was disgusted to see him in june he had two airconditoners on , in a small room smoking CHARAS and said in pushto(I dont care pakistan should provide us electricity free of cost ) how tottaallly dispicable but that is the truth......Me being a pathan dont stand with them at all ....so please DONT STEREOTYPE..........Pathans also love pakistan beyond doubt.
Pakistan zindabad.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Pakora: *
I am from NWFP
I would tell u my dear I am disgusted by the idea of Tribal areas I think musharraf should go in and bust the Bas**** as they take our electricity from WAPDA and still refuse to pay the electric bill .....thank God that I was educated and come to this consensus and mostly the pathans of NWFP agree with me its just the pathans of these tribal areas stand to say no............
btw i visited one guy like this 20 minutes from peshawar and I was disgusted to see him in june he had two airconditoners on , in a small room smoking CHARAS and said in pushto(I dont care pakistan should provide us electricity free of cost ) how tottaallly dispicable but that is the truth......Me being a pathan dont stand with them at all ....so please DONT STEREOTYPE..........Pathans also love pakistan beyond doubt.
Pakistan zindabad.
[/QUOTE]
Exactly!!!
The majority of the people from NWFP are like this, especially the educated youth, who love Pakistan, perhaps more than Punjabis...
I have also heard about some tribal people not paying bills etc, this also happens in Azad Kashmir... As long as their consumption is low, they should get away with it, but we have seen, as pakora mentioned, that some people are misuing and exploiting this facility, they ought to be charged.
Well Said :k: