—The protesters also demanded extension of SC’s jurisdiction in the region
PESHAWAR: In a bid to pursue the reforms agenda in Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA), especially its merger in adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, students and youngsters staged a demonstration in front of Governor House in Peshawar on Wednesday.
On the call of FATA Students Organisation, hundreds of students and youngsters from all seven agencies and six frontier regions assembled in front of the Peshawar Press Club from where they proceeded in a procession towards Governor House. In sizzling heat, the protesters moved on towards the Governor House, chanting slogans in favour of their demands, which included early implementation of recommendations pertaining to reforms, extension of the jurisdiction of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Peshawar High Court to FATA and early merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protesters, on the main Sher Shah Suri Road, and in front of the Governor House, were addressed by a number of office holders of FATA Students Organisation including President Shaukat Aziz. The speakers, while asking for early resolution of their demands, according to resolutions of parliamentarians representing FATA in the National Assembly, also criticised leaders of both Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party for its opposition. They also condemned the political administration from all over the tribal belt for instigating hand-picked elders to oppose the FATA reforms.
Nizam Us Din from Bajer said that “It is time for the government to realise its responsibilities regarding FATA reforms as it is our genuine demand according to the constitution. At this stage we are peaceful and have reaffirmed our faith in rule of law otherwise in future our peaceful movement could easily be violent.” He added that beside students, a group of women, elders, youths and lawyers also attended the rally to show solidarity with the protesting students.
Mohsin Dawar, a young political activist from North Waziristan said that “Our immediate demand is FATA’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For the purpose, tribesmen have knocked at doors of the parliament and FATA parliamentarians have submitted a consensus but it is still pending.” He further said that the government is using delay tactics in resolution of their genuine demands.
Bilawal Afridi from Khyber Agency said that “Today, we demonstrated our belief in patriotism. We demand immediate merger of FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, representation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and judiciary extension to FATA”. He said that the government must honour their demands otherwise they are determined to persist with their protests.