“FATA Merger Declared Unconstitutional and Illegal by Tribal Leaders”
Khyber. (KPK) Jan. 18: Tribal leaders from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have unanimously declared the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as unconstitutional and illegal. The leaders, who gathered for the first meeting of the 48-member committee, expressed their opposition to the merger, stating that it was imposed without their consent.
The committee, comprising representatives from all seven agencies and six frontier regions of FATA, resolved to continue their opposition to the merger until justice is served and the unconstitutional decision is reversed. They also decided to strengthen their movement against the merger, with Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi being elected as the president of the movement.
The tribal leaders’ opposition to the merger is rooted in their concerns about the erosion of their traditional institutions and the lack of representation in the KP assembly. The merger, which was passed in May 2018, aimed to bring FATA under the jurisdiction of the KP government, but the tribal leaders argue that it was done without their consent and in violation of their rights.
Aman Ali Shinwari.
