PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded of the federal government to empower the tribal people by holding local bodies’ election in Fata.

Talking to journalists after holding meeting with representatives of Bajaur Siasi Ittehad at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Thursday, ANP provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said that tribal people were politically aware and knew how to resolve their problems.

“If elections can take place in all provinces of the country, then why not in Fata,” he questioned. He said that MNAs elected from Fata could take part in legislation for the whole country but couldn’t legislate for the tribal areas.

“There is an urgent need to separate judiciary from executive in Fata to pave the way for solution of fundamental problems faced by tribal people,” Mr Hoti said.

The former chief minister said that all political parties operating in Fata were unanimous to demand local government elections despite their differences on other issues. He said that tribal voters should be empowered to elect their representatives at grassroots level.

Hoti asks centre to empower tribal people to elect their representatives at grassroots level

“ANP is staunchly opposed to Frontier Crimes Regulation because it believes in democratisation of tribal people. We have been campaigning to reform laws and empower tribal people like citizens in rest of the country,” the ANP leader said.

Mr Hoti said that tribal people rendered great sacrifices for the sake of peace in the country.

He asked the government to extend complete assistance to displaced tribal people and take measures for their immediate rehabilitation.

The dwellers of all tribal agencies were peace loving people but they were forced to live with violence, the ANP leader said. He added that tribal people suffered the most as far as losses from the endless violence in the country were concerned.

COMIITTEE: Meanwhile, ANP formed a three-member committee to prepare recommendations regarding the party’s stance about rigging in May 2013 general elections.

The recommendations will be sent to the judicial commission.

According to a statement, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan has formed a committee with Advocate Abdul Latif Afridi as its head to present stand of the party to the judicial commission, set up recently to investigate the allegations of fraud in the last general polls.

Other members of the committee are Bushra Gohar, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Afrasiab Khattak and Zahid Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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