PESHAWAR - In order to evolve a strategy on FATA’s future status - whether be declared a separate province or merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, JUI-F will hold a ‘Grand Jirga’ on July 15 in Peshawar.
KP JUI-F in its meeting held recently with its Provincial Ameer Sheikh Amanullah decided to organize a grand jirga in this regard. Besides tribesmen from different walks of life, prominent tribal chieftains would also be invited to participate in the scheduled jirga in Peshawar.
Comparing it with rest of the political and religious parties, JUI-F has deeply rooted in FATA. And, since the extension of Political Parties Order-2002 to the FATA in August last, JUI-F has so far organized several public meetings in tribal belt, followed by JI and ANP in the race.
To have too much influence and share in FATA’s politics, almost all political parties are interested to take advantage of the situation developed after the extension of PPO-2002 to tribal areas.
As under the PPO-2002, political activities, party based elections, election campaigns are allowed in FATA. The ruling ANP in KP, has already held a tribal grand jirga in Peshawar suggesting FATA’s merger into KP.
To renew itself on tribesmen viewpoint, and later evolve a strategy on FATA’s future in the light of jirga’s recommendations, this time, the JUI-F is holding the event, which would also be addressed by the party chief Maulana Fazl Rehman, who has strongly opposed ANP’s stance to merge FATA into KP.
Apart from it, differences also exist among tribesmen over FATA’s future status.
Some of them demand declaration of FATA as a separate province, while others suggest that it should be merged with KP. Moreover, the KP Assembly has recently passed a resolution unanimously asking the federal government to make legislation for giving representation to tribal areas in the KP assembly.
Certain quarters have welcomed this move and termed it a best option, saying by doing so, it would end the present status quo in the region as the resolution does not demand merger but to give representation to FATA, and it should be clear to all.
Whether to oppose or support FATA’s merge into KP or declare it a separate province is just an exercise being done for political gains.
Issuing statements regarding tribal areas status is just to get too much sympathies of tribesmen as general elections are approaching. The political scenario and position of political and religious parties would be this time different in FATA.
As for the very first time, these parties would be face to face in FATA, where religious parties would have an edge over political parties.
Having a total eight National Assembly seats, it would not affect the overall election results, but it would be interesting for all to see that which party would emerge in FATA. After the extension of PPO-2002, political activities are taking place in tribal belt and all the parties active there are claiming these days that they would restore peace in the region if they were voted in coming elections.