No Fata merger without consent of locals, says Achakzai

ISLAMABAD: PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Thursday opposed the. merger of Fata with KP, terming it ‘an independent area’. “First prisoner of FCR is Abdul Ghafar Khan and the second is my father,” he said.

Speaking on the floor of National Assembly, he said those who were speaking on Fata did not know anything about the region and only local people have the right to decide their fate. He said merger should not be made without consent of tribal people. “Sartaj Aziz promised with me on it but he did not fulfill his promise,” he said.

Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah rejected the remarks of Achackzai on a point of order saying that Fata is part of Pakistan where Pakistan’s law is being implemented. He said a member from Balochistan claimed that only he knows Fata, which is not right approach. “If someone does not like Pakistan’s constitution, what could be said about him,” he added.

He also suggested government to go for voting on Fata reforms bill. “Fata is part of Pakistan and there is no other way but to merge it with KP,” he added. Shah Mehmood Qureshi of the PTI said there was no right for a member from Balochistan to talk about Fata. “Fata is our country’s part. If you (Achakzai) prefer to live in Afghanistan, it’s your choice,” said Qureshi.

ANP’s Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said there was a need to respect the opinion of Fata members regarding Fata bill. Achakzai, responding to the opposition members, said that there was a need to respect the opinion of people from Fata area. “No one should teach me about Pakistan,” he said.

Parliamentary leader of Fata Haji Shah G Gul Afridi tried to take the floor in an emotional way on the remarks of Achakzai but the chair did not allow him. Replying to points raised by Khursheed Shah and others on Fata, a minister said the Fata Reforms Package comprising 36 points was formulated after comprehensive negotiations with the relevant stakeholders.

The minister said that the government believes in the supremacy of the Parliament and that is why the Tribal Areas Rewaj Act was laid before the House the other day. Highlighting the main points of the package, he said these include mainstreaming of tribal areas and abolition of FCR. The minister dispelled the impression that the Prime Minister has given him any directions to put the matter of Fata reforms on hold.