The central leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have said that they demand from the federal government that the committee formed for the former FATA under the convenorship of Engineer Amir Muqam be dissolved, as forming the committee is tantamount to the federal government’s interference in the province.
Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar, while holding a press conference along with former Governor KP Shah Farman, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Iqbal Afridi and others, said that the tribal areas have always been sensitive, after the 25th Amendment, the tribal areas have been merged with the province, Amir Muqam was elected as the convener of a committee for FATA.
He said that today was the second meeting but our FATA representatives did not attend. 14 out of 17 MPAs are from PTI. None of our representatives went to the committee because we believe that our rights are being taken away. Barrister Gohar said that there are committees of Saffron of the Senate and the National Assembly, but nothing has ever been done for FATA in any meeting. We demand from the federal government that the committee formed under the convenorship of Amir Muqam be dissolved.
The PTI chairman said that we demand from the federal government that the committee, as forming a committee is tantamount to the federation interfering in the province.
Former Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman said that while separating FATA, it was decided that funds would be given through public representatives, FATA MNAs could vote for the entire country but not for FATA.
He said that the bill to give rights to the representatives of FATA was presented and passed, the FCR law will be taken up again, and the privileges of the settlement area will be renewed.
Shah Farman said that they are creating a drama with the outside world for the Mines and Minerals Bill, the federal government cannot interfere in the affairs of the provincial government, nor does the provincial government give the assembly and members of the assembly the right to interfere and change the status of the tribal areas.
He said that we should boycott government committees and reject them.
Iqbal Afridi said that the principle of the world is to give funds first and then take taxes. In FATA, taxes are being levied first, and funds are being deprived.
He said that I am a member of the SAFRON committee, these issues have never come up in the meeting, the status of the tribal areas of FATA is being changed, and the federal government has no right to interfere in provincial matters.
Sheikh Waqas Akram said that consultation is an excuse, FATA is the target, we will resist and will not let FATA go, the jirga has already been formed, what other jirga should be formed?
He said that the people of FATA and KP know how to make their own decisions, and the committee formed against the constitutional authority must be abolished.
He said that more than 1.7 billion rupees have to be given to FATA, and now there are three years left, the federal government is indebted to FATA and has to give FATA money.
Read also: Amir Muqam denies plans to withdraw FATA merger or abolish 18th amendment
