KP new governor: A ray of hope for FATA

THE FRONTIER POST

Hanif-ur-Rahman

The appointment of Engineer Shaukatullah Khan as governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is a good omen for the terrorism-stricken people of Tribal Areas. The Pakistan People Party has done an-other favor to its dwellers particularly to Bajaur Agency which is really lagging far behind as compared to the rest of Tribal Agencies. His appointment sent a wave of jubilation in Bajaur which was witnessed in the Ariel firing by the trigger-happy people. The very status of separate Agency was given to it by the PPP government in 1973. Many of the developmental works and infrastructure all over Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) owe its existence to the dynamic policies of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. PPP has also got the distinction of amending the century-old British-imposed Frontier Crimes Regulations two year ago. No doubt, the Frontier as it was then known has been holding a key position for the British due to its competition with its nemeses the Tsarist Russia and then the Communists Russia after the Communists Revolution in 1917. The British Government appointed the best of its mind as governors to deal not only with its great rival Russia but also to deal with the unfriendly rulers of Afghanistan and the refractory Pakhtun tribes. Same was done by the imperialists Mughals. During the cold war era the area has been of special concern to the successor of British, the United States. And without any exaggeration Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa played a decisive role in bringing an end to the Cold war polities with heavy losses in every walk of life. The current terrorism has much to do with the past politics. Today once again the area is in the eye of the storm and passing through the worst kind of violence and terrorism. For US it has the potential of carrying another 9/11 like attacks. It has been the nerve-center of Pakistan Tahreek-i-Taliban (TTP) and other Islamic forces with the dreaded Haqqani Network headquartered in North Waziristan. In every aspect of life the successive regimes have not done much for the FATA and that is why the deprivation gathered over years has turned it into a veritable ground for the current wave of militancy. By appointing Engineer Shaukatullah Khan as the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, who is himself a tribesman and has a vast experience of the local politics and knowledge of local customs and traditions, is really a meritorious job by President Zardari. He has been with his father who has not only been twice a Member of the National Assembly but is a skilled and veteran Jargamar (an elder having the skill of conflict resolution). By appointing him as governor at this point of time when the National Awami Party (ANP) and PPP contemplate to hold dialogue with the Taliban to put an end to the decade of violence is step in the right direction. He might be acceptable to all as he has expressly stated his neutral position. He having previously served as Minister of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) is well aware of the problems faced by the Tribesmen. The people of FATA are crossed-fingered over his appointment as new Governor. They have pinned down a lot of hopes and expectations on him. It is hoped that he will focus on education and health problems of FATA. Currently there is no State-of-the-art hospital in the whole of FATA, which not only adds to the misery of the local people but also put an extra burden on the hospitals in Peshawar. FATA being a vast area of 2720 sq kilometers has only one university which has very recently announced by his predecessor, Masood Kausar, in the Frontier Region of Darra Adam Khel. It is hoped that he would upgrade colleges in all Tribal Agencies and will do his best to strive for the establishment of new universities. Electricity though is problem of the whole country but it is a rare commodity in FATA. This should also be on his priority list as well. What he does for the poor and militancy-hit Tribal Area is a matter of time. Whether he takes on the challenges head on and comes out successful of these challenges or become part of history? Whether he vindicates the trust reposed on him by the PPP leadership is to be seen in days to come.