PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has said that he will soon initiate the process of consultation with tribal people about future course of action in light of the recently made amendments to Frontier Crimes Regulation and extension of Political Parties Act to Fata.“Fata people have adequate political awareness,” he said and hoped that political activities in Fata would make tribal society more democratic and politically stable.According to a handout, he said that government wanted to stabilise system in Fata to remove the weaknesses that had emerged over the time. “All this will be done with the consent and support of tribal people,” he added.
Talking to a jirga of elders of Darra Adamkhel at Governor’s House on Thursday, Mr Kausar said that government honoured the sentiments of Fata people and would take them on board while making any administrative, political or judicial decision to
change the prevalent system of governance in tribal areas.He denied any move regarding merger of frontier regions with the respective districts. “Being the chief executive, nothing like this has so far come into my notice,” he said while responding to a point raised by a member of the jirga.
About the recently announced FCR reforms, he said that sufficient spadework had been made before taking a final decision in this regard. These reforms, he added, were result of hectic efforts including consultations with Fata people at different levels
to seek their consent and agreement to the amendments in FCR.The jirga, headed by Senator Abdul Raziq, diverted the attention of governor towards some major problems in the area like outages of electricity and shortage of educational and health facilities.
The jirga members assured the governor of their all out support to maintain peace in the area. Regarding the demands made by the jirga, the governor said that he would convene a meeting of the respective officials to take appropriate decision in that regard. He acceded to the demands of grid station and gas supply, saying that the matters would be taken up with the respective quarters at appropriate level.Members of the Jirga included Malik Mohammad Ayub Zarghunkhel, Malik Wali Khan, Malik Raees Khan, Malik Sher Dil, Javed Iqbal, Abbas Khan, Hura Jan, Wali Mohammad, Malik Zar Mohammad, Malik Rehan and Malik Nawab Shah. – Dawan
