Zardari announces LGs for FATA

On the eve of the 65th Independence Day of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has announced the introduction of local governments in tribal areas in the coming year, as yet another step towards bringing the people of tribal areas into the political mainstream.
The president declared that the coming year will see the beginning of local self-governance in tribal areas, in accordance with the wishes, customs and traditions of its people. “We owe this to the people and to the peace and stability of the country, and the region, to bring these areas into the mainstream of national life,” he said.
The president made this announcement while addressing a special ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to celebrate the 65th Independence Day of the country. Spokesperson to the President, Senator Farhatullah Babar, said that the introduction of the local government system in tribal areas will be gradual and the provision has been incorporated in the draft regulation which states, “It shall come into force on such date as the Governor may by notification determine, and different dates may be notified for different provisions of this regulation.”
Farhatullah Babar recalled that on the eve of the Independence Day last year, the president had announced amendments to the century-old FCR, that had set into motion far reaching administrative, judicial and political reforms in those areas. The president had also announced an extension of the Political Parties Order 2002 to tribal areas enabling, for the first time, all political parties to hold public meetings and extend their political message to people in tribal areas, he said.