Implementation of Fata reforms sought

Supporting the political, administrative, social and legal reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, representatives of almost all major political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saturday asked President Asif Zardari to immediately implement the reforms in Fata.

A meeting of the political parties’ joint committee on Fata reforms was held at the residence of Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) chief Aftab Sherpao to evolve consensus on the issue.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Sherpao said that all the political parties were unanimous in raising voice in support of Fata reforms.

He said the committee members asked President Asif Ali Zardari to implement the package of reform that he had announced on August 14, 2009.

“All the political parties on the committee have agreed to raise voice for implementing the reforms. The committee will be used as a forum to find consensus on other issues in future,” he said.

Referring to findings of the committee’s recent meetings, the PPP-S leader said all the political parties believed that the people of Fata deserved the same rights, freedom, protection and economic opportunities like other Pakistanis.

“We share deep concern that the people of Fata are denied basic democratic and human rights and economic opportunities. We have pledged to help the residents of Fata achieve their rights,” he said.

Sherpao said the committee believed in political, economic, social and administrative reforms in Fata, which were necessary to obtain sustainable peace and development in the tribal regions.

Peace, he said, was not only vital for the people of the Fata but it was also necessary for the wellbeing of all Pakistanis.

Prominent among the participants were Akram Shah of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli of the PPP-S, Mukhtiar Bacha of the National Party, Prof Ibrahim and Haroon-ur-Rashid of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Abdul Jalil Jan and Jalaluddin of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Anwar Kamal Marwat and Rehmat Salam Khattak of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Hashim Babar and Arbab Tahir of the Awami National Party and Mirza Jihadi of the PPP