Fata matters

Residents of Fata are still living under the outdated law that was imposed during the British Raj. These people are deprived of their basic rights owing to the incompetence of governments. After Independence, the authorities concerned should have taken steps to bring Fata into national mainstream. Cantonments should have been relocated to border areas along Afghanistan and Iran and replaced with schools, hospitals and industries to generate employment. Unfortunately every government has failed on this count.

Effective border management should have been done to help these people develop sense of national identity. Instead of spending billions on controlling these areas round the clock through paramilitary forces, the money should have been invested in socio-economic development schemes. We owe it to these people to vent out their anger peacefully and win their hearts and minds. Coercion alone will only alienate them.

Malik Tariq ( Lahore )