Shamsul-amin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: The elected Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of Provincial Assembly(MPAs) from recently merged tribal districts would be able to take part in the legislative process after abolishing of Frontier Crime Regulations(FCR) by the 25th amendment of the constitution of Pakistan.
The elected Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and Members of Provincial Assembly(MPAs) from recently merged tribal districts would be able to take part in the legislative process after abolishing of Frontier Crime Regulations(FCR) by the 25th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan. They would raise voice for the people who elected them via their votes. Local bodies’ elections would empower tribesmen to take part directly in the decision-making process.
All this was said by Dr. Ashraf Ali, a renowned columnist and analyst during a gathering here in Peshawar the other day.
Dr.Ashraf said that before the 25th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan the elected MNAs and MPAs from erstwhile Fata had the power to take part in the legislation to make laws for Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and so on except tribal areas. But after the 25th constitutional amendment, they were empowered and given the right to take part in the legislation process for entire Pakistan including the newly merged tribal districts as well, he added.
They would now be able to raise voice on the assembly floor for the rights of tribal districts masses, Ashraf said.
After the amendment the people of the tribal districts would be able to access the supervisor Court of the country to seek justice as the situation has changed with the merger, Ashraf said.
He maintained that a modern police system would also be soon introduced in the newly merged tribal belt.
Mr. Ali said that via holding of local bodies elections in the tribal districts, powers would be transferred to the grass-root level and a check and balance system will play a key role in the development of the tribal people.
They would be made engaged to take part in the decision-making process at the cross root level for the development of their own respective areas, Dr. Ashraf expressed. Adding that he said the transfer of powers from a few selected people, like local political authorities to a layman would be a positive change.
The majority of tribal people were lauding the steps taken by the government and waiting for Local government polls, he said
