PTI calls for scrapping of committee formed on tribal areas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has strongly opposed the formation of a federal committee on the merged tribal districts, calling it a violation of provincial autonomy.

He demanded that the committee be dissolved immediately.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with other PTI leaders on Monday, Barrister Gohar said: “After the 25th Constitutional Amendment, the tribal areas were merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the formation of this federal committee is an unconstitutional interference in provincial affairs.”

He added that seven MNAs were elected from the tribal districts, five of whom belong to the PTI, but none has been included in the committee yet.

He expressed concern over the appointment of PML-N leader Amir Muqam as the convener of the committee, saying, “This committee held its second meeting on Monday, but none of our representatives attended, we see this as an attempt to violate our rights.”

On this occasion, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram alleged that the federal government was taking an aggressive step in the name of consultation.

“The jirga is already there, what is the need for further consultation? The people of FATA and KP can decide their own future.”

He said that any decision without the consent of the local government representatives would be strongly resisted and demanded that the unconstitutional committee be immediately abolished.

Addressing the media, PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi said that the tribal population was being taxed without giving them their due funds, adding that the federal government owed FATA more than Rs700 billion.

He said that people are still in the camps. You tax but refuse to provide funds? We reject and boycott this committee.

He also claimed that as a member of the SAFRON committee, he was never consulted on this issue, calling it an unauthorized change in the status of FATA.

On this occasion, senior PTI leader Shah Farman said that when FATA was merged with KP, it was agreed that development funds would be directly handed over to local government representatives.

He said that “FATA MNAs vote on national issues, but their own area is outside their legislative sphere.”

He expressed concern over reports that the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) may be reintroduced and that special privileges of populated areas may be withdrawn.

PTI leader Sohail Afridi said that the party opposes any attempt to change the constitutional status of FATA, and if necessary, any amendment should be made through the provincial assembly.

He asserted that if needed, we will restore the jirga system ourselves. The federal government should take care of its jurisdiction.

KP Law Minister Aftab Alam revealed that Rs1000 billion was allocated for the development of FATA since 2018, out of which only Rs132 billion has been released.

He added that “the federal government is trying to stop KP funds by taking unconstitutional decisions. Even our annual share has been stopped.”

He also criticized the lack of progress in law and order despite fencing and military operations, saying that the people of FATA are being punished through neglect and exclusion.