Anwar Zada Gulyar
Bajaur: An important press conference against the merger of the tribal districts was held at the Bajaur Press Club Khar under the banner of the FATA Loya Jirga, where tribal elders termed the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as “a forcibly imposed decision.”
The press conference was addressed by FATA Loya Jirga President Malik Bismillah from Khyber District, General Secretary Malik Azam Mehsud from Waziristan, Nawabzada Fazal Karim, Malik Naib Khan of Dara Adam Khel, Malik Mir Afzal Mohmand, Malik Bahadar Shah, Malik Mohammadi Shah, Malik Hifz-ur-Rehman, Malik Abdul Haseeb, and dozens of other tribal elders.
The speakers said that May 31, 2018, was the “darkest day” in the history of the tribal areas, as on that day the then President of Pakistan signed the 25th Constitutional Amendment, merging FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without the consent or consultation of the tribal people. They stated that the tribes have always rejected this decision and that every year on May 31, protest rallies, marches, gatherings, and demonstrations are organized across the seven former tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions (FRs) under the banner of FATA Loya Jirga, demanding an end to the merger and the restoration of FATA’s previous constitutional and administrative status.
They further said that since Eid-ul-Adha is expected to fall around the same dates this year when the FATA merger was approved, it was decided after mutual consultation that instead of holding protests with black flags on May 31, simple protest press conferences would be organized across all tribal districts to peacefully convey their stance to the world.
The tribal elders claimed that after the merger of FATA, the law and order situation in the tribal districts has further deteriorated, while theft, insecurity, bureaucratic complications, and administrative problems have increased. According to them, tribal people are facing severe difficulties in their daily lives, and the promises of development have yet to be fulfilled.
The speakers urged the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to seriously address the concerns of the tribal people and take steps for the restoration of FATA’s former status. They added that the tribal people would continue their peaceful struggle for their political, constitutional, and democratic rights.
