ISLAMABAD, June 8 (APP): Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt Gen (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch on Wednesday apprised the Senate that the recommendations on FATA reforms were in final stages and the committee would present its report to the Prime Minister soon.
Responding to a Calling Attention notice raised by Abdul Qayyum about
delay in finalization and implementation of much needed FATA reforms, the minister said that a committee headed by the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz was constituted to propose reforms.
The committee 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.
Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani sought Parliament’s role in
finalization of reforms for FATA but added that the FATA Reforms Committee was sidelining the parliament.
Meanwhile, Abdul Qayyum on behalf of Chairman Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis Baz Muhammad Khan presented report of the committee on the problems being faced by Overseas Pakistani.
