Alliance in the making for reversing merger of erstwhile FATA

Different organisations are enhancing contacts in an effort to come closer for getting the merger of FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reversed, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In this connection, FATA Grand Alliance, Akhorwal Youth and Students, Qabail Tahaffuz Movement, FATA Supreme Council and others have started consultations for forming a joint alliance against the merger.

Moreover, they also discussed the issues related to planning a movement to achieve their goal.

Talking about the issue, Hamidullah Jan Afridi – a former federal minister – said it was expected that the Supreme Court would hear a petition filed against the merger in the next few days.

Sources say the petition claims that the merger was unconstitutional. Senior constitutional expert Wasim Sajjad – former Senate chairman – would represent the petitioners.

The sources also added that a press conference would soon be held about the formation of alliance by the tribal organisations.

It is worth recalling that political leaders JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman have among those opposing the merger from the very beginning. Even after the erstwhile FATA became part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he never hesitates his dismay and anger.

In March this year, he told a conference in Peshawar that the government had taken the decision about the merger of the erstwhile FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unilaterally without taking the region’s people on board.

He asked the government to hold a referendum to know if ex-Fata’s residents were happy and said his party would continue the movement for a separate provincial status of the tribal areas. 

To fuel these sentiments, the government has been unable to fulfil the promises made with the region’s people with very little reforms and development budget allocation.

Gohar Mehsud reported this news for 24NewsHD TV.