PESHAWAR: A multi-party conference on Thursday demanded of the federal government to merge the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the light of recommendations of Sartaj Aziz committee report and resolutions of the parliament.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami had organised the conference here, which was attended by leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Awami National Party, and parliamentarians from Fata and tribal elders. Maulana Samiul Haq chaired the moot.

A joint statement issued at the end of the conference expressed concern over delay in implementation of the report of six-member committee, headed by Sartaj Aziz. It said that the committee spent 11 months on the report and sought opinion of the elders and civil society.

The statement said that the federal cabinet, Senate and National Assembly had approved the report while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had also endorsed the merger plan. In addition, the mainstream political parties and an overwhelming majority of the tribal population were also demanding implementation of the report.

Despite that the federal government has delayed the reforms process in the area. The government should immediately implement the report of the committee and adopt practical measures for the Fata-KP merger.

The statement said that the government should focus on improvement of health, education, drinking water and other basic infrastructure in Fata. It said that the government should not take into consideration opposition by few personalities and declare Fata as part of KP.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, coalition partners of PML-N in the centre, are opposing the merger plan. JI has already announced walk from Jamrud to Islamabad on Dec 10 to protest against delay in the merger.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2017