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Amendments to FCR urged for ‘betterment of tribal people’ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a policy level seminar on Thursday demanded that the government empower FATA legislators to make laws for the betterment of tribal people.
They also called for extension of writ of the high court and Supreme Court to the tribal region. They were of the view that time had come for the tribal people to elect honest and educated representatives who could raise their concerns at appropriate forums and push for much needed reforms.
The speakers termed the Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) law “draconian which deprive people of their basic fundamental rights”.
The seminar on “Effective implementation of FCR reforms” was organised by Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE).
The purpose of the seminar was to discuss implementation status of FCR reforms and its potential to be catalyst for governance change in FATA and to obtain views and opinions of participants for improvements in the FCR. The participants included parliamentarians, representatives of civil society and donor agencies.
Member National Assembly Shah Gee Gul said, “We are very peaceful people but in the past FATA has been used, internationally and nationally, for the political and power interests of others at the cost of local citizens.”
He called for empowering FATA legislators to make laws for the tribal people for the betterment of the local population in line with their needs and cultural traditions.
Akhunzada Chitan, former MNA, said that the people of FATA should be given a peaceful atmosphere in which security is paramount. He said the local government is the unit of democracy and local government elections should be held in FATA and powers should be devolved at union council level.
He also said that the National Assembly and Senate should also have legislation rights for FATA as it is also part of Pakistan and elected representatives of FATA are also members of parliament.
Speaking on the occasion, Daniyal Aziz, MNA and chairman of DTCE board of directors, gave a historical perspective on the FCR and agreed with rest of the speakers that the people of FATA are also citizens of Pakistan and as such all efforts should be made to undertake reforms that brings FATA at par with the rest of Pakistan.
Lawyers Forum FATA President Ijaz Momand was of the view peace in FATA is unlikely until peace restores in Afghanistan. Although some reforms were made in FCR in 2011, they have not been implemented yet, he added.
He also suggested amendments to Article 247 of the constitution.
The participants were informed that the president of Pakistan had approved FCR reforms in August 2011.These legal and political reforms were the first step towards bringing a change in FATA and establishing modifications and alternatives to the “archaic era systems” which had kept the status of FATA different from rest of the nation.
The people of FATA have desire and potential of integrating into the mainstream of national life while respecting local customs and traditions, the participants of the seminar were told.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk