ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers on Friday called for bringing Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into mainstream in line with aspirations of local people.
Taking part in debate in the lower house, Pakistan Milli Awami Party Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai endorsed the demands of Maulana Fazlur-Rehman about the future of FATA through holding referendum. He said since the country was passing through critical juncture, it was not suitable time to discuss the FATA reforms within short time in the National Assembly.
Achakzai said that FATA people had never been involved in terrorism or sectarianism rather they were more patriotic people and had rendered supreme sacrifices for the country. He said FATA was used against war across the border in the past, as a result people from other countries came here and put the peace at stake here. “No reforms would be accepted in FATA without the desire of the people of area,” he added.
Mahmood Khan stressed on the Parliamentary committee on FATA reforms to work for imparting modern education to the youth of the area, enabling them to effectively contribute their services for the country’s socio-economic development. He said that he would suggest during the upcoming joint session of the parliament to hand down punishment to those who abrogate or violate Constitution which was facing a number of challenges.
He stressed that the government to take steps for ensuring durable peace in the neighboring country Afghanistan as prosperity of the region hinged upon peace there. Achakzai said that he fully endorsed and supported the improved and good relations between the Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He also advocated that reconciliation process be initiated to improve relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the sake of regional peace. PTI Leader Shireen Mazari said, “We want to bring back FATA into the national mainstream,” adding FATA reforms could be discussed in detail in the National Assembly.
Another Member National Assembly (MNA) Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Qaiser Jamal said that many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were still living in the camps due to inadequate facilities for the repatriation. He said steps should be taken for health and education sector of FATA which suffered damages as a result of war on terror. He said that NGOs should also be given permission to work in the FATA as they were working in other parts of the country.
He said that the corruption cases of FATA should be handed over to the NAB for the elimination of the menace. Qaiser said that the political members should be given practical role in the reforms of FATA. The salaries of the Levis force should be a par with KPK police as they were equally sacrificing their lives in the war against terrorism.
He suggested that the people of the area affected in wake of terrorism should be given financial assistance through BISP and Bait-ul-Mal and that the FATA students should also be awarded scholarships.
