PESHAWAR - Two groups of tribesmen, one favouring Fata’s merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and other backing the existing Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) system, Friday scuffled and marred the proceedings of a consultative seminar on Fata reforms, which forced KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to leave the venue without addressing it.
Jhagra had attended the session on Fata reforms as chief guest at the occasion. A large number of tribesmen, elders, lawyers, youth, students and parliamentarians were also in attendance.
However, before the formal start of proceedings, Fata Students Federation activists began chanting slogans in favour of Fata merger with KP and opposed the FCR law, while another group not only chanted slogans against KP government but also condemned the role of Fata MNAs. KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was also present was also present.
Moreover, a group allegedly headed by tribal elder Malak Marjan Khan also tore copies of the commendation report prepared by the Fata Reforms Committee. They alleged that in the name of reforms, tribal people are being fooled which would not be allowed anymore.
Instead of reforms, the government should end corruption from Fata, improve law and order situation and build schools, colleges and universities and provide jobs to tribal youth, they said. The Fata Students Federation and Fata Lawyers Forum, which are backing Fata merger with KP changed slogans in support of the reforms and said that it would end black days of tribal people, however, certain elements do not want it.
Both the sides did not stop despite several attempts to calm them down. The two groups also raised slogans against each other.
KP governor left the seminar without addressing the session, due to which, the event ended without any proceedings.