ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Amir Muqam has denied reports suggesting that the federal government intends to separate the districts previously part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, Muqam clarified that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to address the issues of the merged districts with the intention of promoting their development and improving governance.
The committee, which met for the first time on July 1, discussed the revival of the traditional jirga system in FATA, which was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018. Muqam, who chairs the committee, emphasized the need for a justice system that aligns with both tribal customs and constitutional principles. The committee also agreed to form a sub-committee to draft recommendations and announced that the next session would take place in Peshawar.
Muqam provided some context behind the committee’s formation, explaining that tribal elders from the merged districts had voiced their concerns during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PM responded by setting up a committee that includes representatives from various political factions, with the aim of improving living conditions in the region.
Despite the committee’s efforts, Muqam expressed disappointment over the opposition’s decision to boycott the discussions, underscoring the importance of a unified approach for the region’s development. He reassured that while laws might be amended, no new constitutional amendments would be introduced. He also mentioned that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ruling party was currently fragmented, and no political group had been formally engaged in talks yet, although he acknowledged that political dynamics could shift.
Muqam affirmed that decisions would be made in line with the aspirations of the people in the merged districts and through extensive consultations with elected representatives.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the federal government’s decision to introduce reforms for the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), calling the move unconstitutional and an attempt to undermine the region’s development. During a press conference at K-P House in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticized the government’s actions, claiming that the committee formed to address FATA’s issues was disingenuous and lacked legitimacy.
Gohar pointed out that Amir Muqam’s appointment as convener was merely symbolic, as he did not represent FATA nor have any public mandate from the area. He also highlighted the exclusion of 14 out of 17 elected representatives from the merged districts, all of whom belong to PTI, from the committee. This, Gohar said, was a violation of their democratic rights.
Former K-P Governor Shah Farman reminded attendees that during the FATA merger, a commitment was made to channel development funds through locally elected representatives. However, he noted that this promise had not been fulfilled, leaving FATA without the necessary resources for development. He also warned that any attempt to revive outdated laws like the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) or restore privileges to settled areas would breach the merger agreement.
MNA Iqbal Afridi criticized the government’s approach, stating that global principles dictate that facilities and funds should precede taxation. He noted that FATA was being taxed without any accompanying development projects.
Sheikh Waqas Akram warned that the government’s actions would meet strong resistance from the people of FATA and K-P. He also reminded the government of its promise to pay Rs 700 billion to the people of FATA over the next three years, urging it to honor this commitment.
K-P Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Khan highlighted the disparity in funding, revealing that only Rs 132 billion had been allocated to former FATA since 2018, despite a promise of Rs 1,000 billion. He pointed out that even after extensive security measures like fencing, FATA remained underdeveloped, further contributing to its backwardness.
Concluding the press conference, representatives from the merged districts issued a unified statement, asserting that any constitutional amendments should be made by the K-P provincial government, not the federal government. They announced their intention to form their own jirga and reject any decisions made by non-representative bodies.
