ISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated on Wednesday that the army fully supported the mainstreaming of the Federally-Administrated Tribal Areas.
The COAS said this in separate interactions with delegations of tribal elders and youth jirga from Fata at the ISPR office here.
According to the ISPR, delegations acknowledged and appreciated the Pakistan Army's sacrifices, efforts and contributions for peace and stability and socio-economic development of the Fata.
It further said that delegations expressed their respective views regarding mainstreaming of the Fata and the way forward. The COAS assured both delegations that Pakistan Army fully supported mainstreaming of the Fata and should pursue it in line with aspirations of the tribal brothers.
He advised the youth to continue playing their role towards peace and progress of the Fata and Pakistan as they were the future leaders.
The COAS lauded the tribal elders and the youth for their determination and support to Pakistan Army in the fight against terrorism. He valued their views regarding the future of the Fata.
The COAS said that achievements through sacrifices of brave tribesmen of the Fata were being consolidated, while “we transit from relative stability to enduring peace.”
Gen Bajwa also shared his engagement with the Afghan leadership for enhanced cooperation and security measures along the Pak-Afghan border. The Commander Peshawar Corps, DG ISI, CGS and other senior army officers were also present.
On Monday, a last-minute decision by the government to once again delay the presentation of the Fata reforms bill had led to uproar in the National Assembly. Opposition lawmakers had announced a boycott of house proceedings until the much-delayed legislation was introduced.
The intensity of the protest increased when two federal ministers, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed and Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch failed to give a satisfactory reason for the government’s decision to put off the introduction of a bill seeking to extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court to the tribal areas. The SAFRON Minister in a joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz few days ago had said that the government would get the proposed Fata bill approved within a week’s time.