FATA MPs hail LG system decision in tribal areas

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A FATA delegation comprising Senators and Members of National Assembly led by Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at PM’s House on Tuesday. Haji Munir Khan Orakzai, MNA congratulated the Prime Minister on the occasion of Independence Day. He also hailed the decision of the government to introduce local governments system in tribal areas. The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for the government’s special focus on tribal areas and informed him that people of tribal areas are appreciative of the efforts being made by the government to improve their standard of living. The Prime Minister said that the tribal people are brave, hospitable and an invaluable asset of the country. They have always been on the forefront whenever the nation has called upon them to play their role. The Prime Minister said that Peoples Party is a Federal party which has representation from all over the country including tribal areas. The role of National political parties is of paramount importance in furthering democracy and bringing progress and prosperity in the country, he emphasised. The Prime Minister praised the political acumen and the constructive role played by the Senators and Members of the National Assembly hailing from FATA. The delegation apprised the Prime Minister of the development projects and on-going schemes in their constituencies. The Prime Minister assured the delegation that the government will extend all possible assistance for the early completion of development projects in the tribal areas. Those who called on the Prime Minister included Engr Shaukatullah Minister for SAFRON, Senator Abbas Khan Afridi Minister of State for Commerce, Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Najamul Hassan, Senator Muhammad Idrees Khan Saafi, Senator Moulana Muhammad Saleh Shah, Sajid Hussain Turi MNA, Jawad Hussain MNA and Noorul Haq Qadri MNA, reports INP. President Asif Ali Zardari announced on Monday that the system of local governments would be introduced in tribal areas next year. He termed it another step forward in efforts to bring the people of the region into the mainstream of national life. “I have great pleasure in announcing the introduction of local governments in tribal areas. The coming year will be the year of giving local self-governance in accordance with the wishes of the tribal people, and in accordance with their customs and traditions,” President Zardari said at a special ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr to mark the country’s 66th Independence Day. Interestingly, the ceremony attended by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, federal ministers, the chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, governors of the four provinces, members of parliament and diplomats was held hours before the president’s departure to Saudi Arabia to attend the OIC Summit and was recorded and telecast on Monday midnight. “We owe it to the people and to the peace and stability of the country and the region to bring these areas into the mainstream of national life,” he said. “Last year, on the eve of Independence Day, I had signed the regulation for reforms in tribal areas. Under that package, the FCR was replaced with Fata Regulation 2011. The political parties were also allowed to reach out to the people in tribal areas with their message,” he said, adding: “This was our gift to the people on the Independence Day last year. It was a major change in hundred years. It was historic. The process continues.” In an apparent reference to the ongoing confrontation between the government and the judiciary, the president called for safeguarding the dignity and honour of the elected parliament and for protecting it “from new forms of assaults”. He said parliament was the voice of the people and could not be silenced and would never be. The Independence Day this year, the president said, was being celebrated at a time when a democratically-elected government was about to complete its mandated term in office. “This is a historic milestone. It augurs well for democracy and democratic traditions in the country. Unfortunately for most part of our independent existence, people were often denied right to rule and the Constitution was repeatedly abrogated.” It was reassuring that the present parliament had unanimously restored, to a large extent, the ‘democratic’ Constitution of 1973, he said, adding that today the people of Pakistan had reasons to celebrate as they were an independent and a strong nation. But, he continued, there were dangers and threats also and said militants posed the greatest threat to the country. “A great challenge that we are faced with is defeating the militant mindset,” he said, adding: “For this, we must defend democracy and promote tolerance, discussion and debate.”