HISTORICALLY, Fata has always been at the periphery of
empires. Even when it was considered a kingmaker, it preferred getting
booty in return. The area was referred to as Yaghistan (no-man’s land).
The British gave it some semblance of government but their efforts were
half-hearted. Policies were framed with India’s security in mind. They
saw Russian ingress into Central Asia with concern, convinced that
Russia would invade Afghanistan and that its expansion would bring it to
the borders of India, the jewel in the crown.
They did
everything to prevent such a situation. They armed the tribesmen with
religion and weaponry. They divided Pakhtuns, who couldn’t unite under
the banner of Pakhtun nationalism, in groups so they couldn’t pose any
threat to British rule, but could be close enough to be united under the
banner of religion if needed.
After independence,
Pakistan followed the same policy and in return became the blue-eyed boy
of the West. Though Russia never posed a serious threat while the
British ruled India, continuation of the policy paid off in the late
1970s when Russia marched into Afghanistan. Fata served not only as the
launching pad for Afghan Mujahideen but also provided maximum manpower
and logistic support. Among the many adverse effects of the Afghan
jihad, one was the spread of militancy to the rest of Pakistan.
When are we going to reach such a broad-based consensus again?
The tribesmen always desired development at par with other
areas of the country. They wanted it even during the British Raj but
schools and hospitals were not developed.
After
independence, they thought they were equal citizens in a free country.
But no — having seen 70 years of discrimination and more than a decade
of active warfare, Fata’s people have shown resentment and demanded
change. They want to come out of the colonial era and claim equal
rights. For once, all stakeholders, including political parties, support
the mainstreaming of Fata, pleading their claim to equal rights and
opportunities guaranteed by the Constitution.
Fata’s
status was determined by the country’s security paradigm; without
changing this, reforms in Fata were impossible. The army fenced the
western border to stop the infiltration of militants and thus clearly
defined the frontier. They disarmed the tribesmen, indicating they would
no more be used as cannon fodder, a clear indication of change in the
security paradigm. Besides, the army supports reforms at the highest
level.
The government responded positively and promised
reforms, to bring Fata at par with the rest of the country. A committee
under Sartaj Aziz was formed to meet stakeholders and make proposals.
The stakeholders accepted whatever was proposed by the government’s
committee on reforms. Thus implementation of the report should have been
easy but in spite of continuous assurances, the reforms are not
materialising. The withdrawal of the Fata reforms bill from the National
Assembly agenda recently is a case in point.
Unfortunately,
the Fata administration doesn’t seem to be very enthusiastic on
reforms. The president of Pakistan hasn’t held a single grand jirga to
reassure the tribes. Whatever was proposed to be done by end 2017 hasn’t
even started. Initially, an idea was floated that the FCR be amended.
When that didn’t go well, it was proposed that Fata should be a separate province.
All those having stakes in the status quo are supporting a separate
province, while an apparent majority of educated youth and political
parties are supporting merger with KP. The issue of merger is the last
on the reforms agenda yet it is being debated most, probably to create
divisions.
The Fata administration could start by
embarking on initiatives that don’t require approval from any forum. It
could set up the directorate of transition and reforms in the Fata
secretariat to work out what is needed for reforms. Knowing the long
recruitment procedure, this should have been initiated earlier.
The
reform report proposes that octroi and other cesses will be
discontinued from the current financial year but this hasn’t happened.
This can be done with a stroke of the pen, giving relief in millions of
rupees. Fata shares the chief secretary with KP. Fata secretaries can be
directed to report to the additional chief secretary, KP, a step closer
to merger of the bureaucracies, to be followed by Fata directorates
reporting to their respective secretaries in KP, reverting to their
position before 1998.
It is pertinent to note that
officials working in Fata are KP government employees on deputation. The
president or Safron should plead for special allocations promised to
Fata in 2017.
It’s a pity that the government has failed
to grab this historic opportunity and is instead playing into the hands
of the few whose stakes dictate maintaining the status quo.
Delaying
reforms exposes lack of wisdom and a colonial mindset. The government
has been hiding behind the army for too long; the army has made it clear
that it supports merger and has taken steps in that direction. The KP
Assembly has been forthcoming which might not be the case after the next
elections. The demand for reforms has come from Fata MPs; almost all
political parties and civil society have extended their full support.
When are we going to reach such a broad-based consensus again?
The
president, governor KP and minister Safron are either sleeping or have
made so many false statements that no one trusts them anymore. Fata’s
people are being pushed against the wall. They have been unarmed but are
responsible for their territory under the FCR. So either we return
their weapons to them or absolve them of responsibility.
The
youth is getting desperate, knowing that a few hundred people in
Islamabad can bring the government to its knees. They feel they won’t
get anything out of the government without showing muscle. Fata’s youth
gate-crashed the governor’s programme at an event in Peshawar; no one
knows where they will strike next. The government should take immediate
measures before someone exploits the situation. Rest assured, RAW and
NDS are watching closely and working on alienating the tribesmen.