Entangled in the clutches of an outdated system that was promulgated by the British in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) more than a 100 years ago, the life of the tribesmen is stagnant and needs reform. Due to its geographical location and for being a centre of internal and external conflicts and wars imposed by the US and former Soviet Union, the inhabitants of FATA have been facing numerous difficulties for many years. Even after the passage of 69 years of the establishment of Pakistan, they are deprived of almost all civic rights as the citizens of an independent state. They are still governed under the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), which have not yet been abolished despite repeated calls by the population of FATA and human rights bodies. Despite the continuous struggle of the people there, FATA enjoys no elected representation at the local or provincial levels and until 1996, tribal citizens had no voting rights in elections for the National Assembly (NA). The representation they now have is 12 members in the NA and eight members in the Senate. However, these members have little influence in both houses due to their being elected as independents. It is very unfortunate that FATA has not been brought into the mainstream and left to become restive and a host to militancy in the region. Rampant corruption by political agents and their subordinates has further added to the woes of these tribal citizens.
A protest demonstration by students hailing from different tribal agencies of FATA on Wednesday reiterates their renewed struggle for securing due rights. On the occasion they presented three main demands consisting of merging of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, abolishment of FCR law, and an increase in seats for tribal students in various colleges and universities. These are legitimate demands and need to be accepted by the Centre. FATA has long been treated as a pariah state, and now time has come that development on a large scale be initiated in these areas. The latest awakening among students owes its existence to the creation of a new class in FATA.
