ISLAMABAD, June 9 (APP): Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt Gen ® Abdul Qadir Baloch here Thursday said that the recommendations on FATA reforms were in final stages and the committee would present its report to the Prime Minister soon.
Talking to APP here the minister said that a committee headed by the Prime Minister Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz was constituted to propose FATA reforms.
He said that the committee have visited the seven agencies of FATA and held meetings with the elders and other members of civil society to take their input with regard to reforms in those areas.
He said that the committee recorded two different recommendations in separate meetings with tribal elders who wanted to continue with old Jirja system and youth was in favour of merging with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that presently, there were host of challenges which needed to be addressed including provision of a role in their affairs, granting right of appeal in courts, abolishing collective responsibly clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).
The minister said that a political conference would also be convened to give concrete shape to the recommendations before approval.
He said that the tribal people have rendered supreme sacrifices for the country. Currently, there was an immediate challenge to repatriate them to their native areas besides rehabilitating with providing all basic amenities of life.