ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday declared that the mainstreaming process of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) would be completed within the tenure of the PML-N government in consultation with all the opposition parties and the stakeholders.
Speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister said there were no two opinions over bringing FATA people into the mainstream. The modalities would be sorted out within the next four weeks in consultation with the opposition parties so that all the legal and constitutional requirements could be met, he added.
“Today certain decisions were taken which would further expedite the process with mentioning of the time frame. We want that the process should be completed within the remaining period of this parliamentary tenure as we want the parliament to play its role,” he added. The prime minister announced that the Agency Development Fund has been abolished with immediate effect. “Local government elections in FATA would be held before October 2018 so that the people living in those areas could get their representation. Whereas modalities for the election process of the parliament and provincial assemblies would also be finalised in consultation with all the political stakeholders so as to avoid any controversy,” he said, adding that the leader of the opposition as well as all the parliamentary leaders would be taken into confidence over the implementation of FATA reforms. The prime minister mentioned that jurisdiction of the Surpeme Court and the high court had already been extended to FATA. Acknowledging the sacrifices of the personnel of the law enforcement agencies, civilians and the locals, the prime minister said FATA mainstreaming should be implemented as there were no two opinions and all the political parties and the people were on one page over the issue.
The prime minister stressed that mainstreaming process was requirement of the FATA people as well as the people of entire country. He said in terms of development, FATA would be brought on a par with other parts of the country and for that purpose Rs 1,000 billion would be required for development in FATA during the next 10 years in addition to the current allocations. The government was committed to provide all required funds for that purpose, he added.
Published in Daily Times, May 3rd 2018.
