Tribes opposed to FATA merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Karachi [Pakistan], Mar. 6(ANI): A Pakistan government move to merge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province is facing resistance from tribals. "The government has imposed a decision on the masses of FATA without their consultation or holding a referendum in the agencies. Such a decision of a few people from the majority is not democratic and we oppose any such act of the federal government," the Express Tribune quoted a Jirga of elders, as saying. The resolution also said tribal elders and political groupings would also meet with the JUI-F chief in Peshawar. The Jirga also agreed in principle to hold a rally each day in the headquarters of each agency to register their protest against the decision. Earlier, Pakistan's federal cabinet had approved recommendations of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) reforms committee. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was chairing the cabinet, asserted that the people of the FATA, Gilgit Baltistan (G-B) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be given their due rights. "The cabinet accords in principle approval to the recommendations of the Fata reforms committee." The Express Tribune quoted Prime Minister House as saying in a statement. Sharif on the occasion emphasised the need to focus on the development of under-developed areas to improve the living standards of the people. After facing the widespread criticism of lawmakers of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the Federal cabinet finally pulled out the FATA reforms on February 7, 2017. (ANI)