Recommendations of Fata Reforms Committee against public aspirations: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that the Fata Reforms Committee has concluded its findings contrary to public aspirations. He said that the Fata can be included in the national mainstream by conferring on it the status of a separate province. He said that increase in the size of the provinces will lead to more problems. He said that the option of new provinces should be seriously explored to end the culture of one-man show and concentration of resources and powers. He advised the government to shun the thinking of imposing decision from afar on the basis of its numerical strength in the legislature. He said that the decision regarding future of Fata has to be taken by the people of the area and the best mode for this purpose is holding of referendum.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while talking to the members of the central Core Committee yesterday. He said that according to his information, the people of Fata presented three key demands to the Fata Reforms Committee. (1) Reconstruction of Fata. (2) Return and rehabilitation of IDPs. (3) Change in the FCR provisions. He said that the Fata Reforms Committee had no right to formulate report of its own choice, totally de-linked from the reality. He said that these problems were on the top of discussions carried out in all the Jirgas held for the purpose.

Dr Qadri said that the people of Fata have this complaint that despite passage of eight years, the local population are confronted with grave problems as they still have no economic, political and social activities. He said that the people of Fata are forced to live the life as cavemen despite living in the 21st century. He said that compared to national literacy rate of 58%, Fata has 33% literacy. He said that 86% women have the facility of delivery under the supervision of lady doctors, whereas 29% women from Fata have this facility. He asked as to who is responsible for the step-motherly treatment of the people of Fata.

The PAT Chairman said that he wanted to put everyone on the alert that the decisions taken contrary to the will of the people of Fata will not be long lasting. He said neither will these change the fate of the region nor will peace be established. He said that if decisions were implemented with pressure, the people of Fata will lose their confidence in the government of Pakistan. He said that the people of Fata have rendered matchless sacrifices for the peace, territorial integrity and honor of Pakistan, adding that the people of Pakistan remain grateful to their brothers and sisters of Fata.

Dr Qadri said that the elected representatives of Fata should not be tempted to any bait and should represent the interest and aspirations of their people and the region. He said that the government is in the error if it thinks that it will be able to get the laws of its choice endorsed by the Fata elected leaders by giving them the bait of the development funds. He said that merger of Fata in the KP province is not like an issue of delimitation, adding that it will have lasting implications. He said that it is strange that the governments of Pakistan and the KP are not on the same page on the issue. So much so the allies of the government are annoyed with the government on the matter.

Dr Qadri said that the PAT has the vision of carving out new provinces from the body politic on administrative grounds. He said that the more the provinces, the less the concentration of powers and resources and people will have more empowerment to seek resolution of their fundamental problems such as health, and education etc.