Beyond the merger

That the government has finally passed the bill for the KP-Fata merger is noteworthy. The war-stricken region has been down in the doldrums for many years now. The poor level of political structure of the region – it was still under the draconian FCR – deprived residents of their basic human rights. It is hoped that after the abolition of the FCR, residents will enjoy their constitutional rights like other Pakistanis.

Now all major political parties should continue to show interest in building national cohesion. But there is still a long way to go. The people of Fata are accustomed to their local laws and judicial systems, and we need to be careful when introducing reforms in the region.

Engr Ali Akhtar

Jamshoro