The amended version of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), announced by President Asif Ali Zardari on August 12, has not been fully implemented in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), parliamentarians and people belonging to the area told Pakistan Today on Sunday.
The president had approved amendments to the much criticised law, which had been enforced in FATA since the British rule. Major changes were made in laws regarding the collective responsibility of a tribe, restricting the arbitrary nature of the powers of political agents or district coordination officers (DCOs), and granting citizens a right to challenge the decisions of political agents in courts.
Muhammad Sajid Turi, chairman of the Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions, told Pakistan Today that the previous version of FCR was being followed in FATA. He said the courts, which had to be established after the amendments, had not been set up so far. When asked about possible obstacles for the new FCR implementation, Turi said the unrest in tribal areas could be a main problem.
“But there are certain areas which are comparatively peaceful and where the government can implement the reformed FCR there. But one thing I have come to know is that the governor is having consultations regarding the appointment of a judicial authority in the tribal areas,” Turi said.
The new amendments separated judicial and executive powers of political agents and granted the right to appeal against their decisions in an appellate authority and FATA tribunal, similar to a high court. FATA Senator Abdul Raziq said the practice of following the old FCR could be changed only if someone challenged it in a court. He said the FATA tribunal was yet to be constituted by the government.
Another senator from the area, Abbas Khan, avoided blaming the government directly, saying the amendments were not being implemented because of bureaucratic complications and a slow implementation process. A notable from Kurram Agency, Said Abbas, also confirmed that the old FCR was being followed.
Senator Hafiz Rashid said the new regulations were being implemented at a very slow pace and that the government should expedite the process. “Only the Political Parties Act has been implemented and no progress has been made on implementing the new FCR”, he added.
