KP govt forms panel of MPs for talks with PTM

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has constituted a committee of parliamentarians from ex-Fata for redressal of the grievances of tribal people and development in the merged districts.

The committee has been mandated to talk with the leadership of Pashtun Tahafaz Movement (PTM) for removing their grievance, said K-P government spokesman Ajmal Wazir.

The decision was taken at meeting of Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Shaheen Mazhar senators and MNAs from ex-Fata and representatives of mainstream political parties, Wazir told the press conference held at the CM Secretariat on Wednesday.

“The public representatives from erstwhile Fata suggested engaging in discourse with PTM leaders to guarantee peace in the district with government representatives also agreeing to this,” the spokesperson added.

PTM, led by Manzoor Pashteen, has been very vocal against operation of security forces in tribal areas and issue of missing persons.

Wazir said participants of the meeting included senators Hidayat Ullah Khan, Mirza Khan Afridi, Shamim Afridi, Malak Hilalur Rehman, Aurangzeb Khan Orakzai, ex-Fata MNAs Gul Dad Khan, Gul Zafar Khan, Sajid Khan, Muir Khan Orakzai, Sajid Hussain Tori, Jawad Hussain, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, and Jamal Uddin.

Wazir said that the chief minister constituted an Advisory Committee for Redressals and Development of ex-Fata which will meet every month with the CM in the chair to address and monitor development in tribal districts.

He further informed that the committee will see the spending of development budget in tribal district.

Allaying fears of disbanding Khasadars, Levies forces, Wazir said no one will be made jobless as all law enforcing agencies will continue performing their duties, while extending police powers to tribal districts take one week time.

“The provincial government has already issued a notification for extending courts to erstwhile Fata,” Wazir said.

Tribal youth will get age relaxation for recruitment in police and other government jobs. Moreover, doctors having domiciles of tribal areas will be deputed to their hometowns.

All those government employees who have Fata domicile will be deputed in their district.

“After the article 247 the extension of courts and all the rights available to the Fata district people and the government is committed to provide all the rights to the Fata citizen”, Wazir added.

He added that the government will never compromise on the future of Fata people as the government will release all the fund and package for the development of Fata.

In response to a question, Ajmal Wazir said government isopen to talks with anyone including PTM leadership.

When asked about participation of PTM representatives in the committee, Ajmal Wazir said they were invited for the meeting, but they did not turn up.

Source: The Express Tribune