President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday stressing continuation of reform process in FATA said people of the area need to be given due rights, as they have suffered at the hands of criminals, Taliban and drone strikes. President Zardari said “the rights now given to the people of FATA can neither be withdrawn nor curtailed.” He expressed hope that government will carry forward the reform process initiated in one of the country’s most impoverished areas. The president was addressing the participants comprising tribal Maliks and elite, lawyers, educationists, students, women representatives and journalists who had prepared the 19-point FATA Declaration, that was approved by a Grand Assembly in Peshawar last month. The Declaration urges immediate full implementation of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) amendments from 2011, that people of FATA also be given fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution, establishment of Local Government system and reserved seats for women. President Zardari said the amendments made in the FCR were aimed at empowering the people of the area and to ensure their bright future. He recalled that suggestions were made that the reform process be initiated once peace returns to the area, however he did not agree and went ahead with the reform package, along with the measures for peace. He said the reforms initiated were not complete, but hoped the process for improvement would continue. The event was organised by the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation. Chief Executive Officer of Shaheed Bhutto Foundation Khalid M. Shafi said FATA reforms were aimed at bringing the area into national mainstream. The declaration also calls for extending the jurisdiction of the High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan to FATA, promotion of education including vocational training, separate universities for men and women, proper health facilities and hospitals and infrasturcture development. The FATA declaration was unanimously approved by over 300 members of the FATA Reforms Councils, marking the culmination of a five-year long consensus building process. The process was initiated by the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation in 2008, to give a voice to the people of FATA and to push for a change through reforms. --- Read the complete article: thenews.pk/article-107814-President-for-continuation-of-FATA-reform-process
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 14:04:13 +0000
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