PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar said Wednesday that bringing peace in Fata was a hard nut to crack, but it could be made possible by fully implementing the Political Parties Order and other reforms in the tribal areas.The incumbent government, he said, took historical steps including formation of FCR tribunal, extension of Political Parties Order to Fata and removal of draconian articles from the Frontier Crime Regulation. Implementation of these reforms in a true sense would certainly take some time, he said while speaking at a consultative jirga on ‘political reforms in Fata’ held at Governor’s House, which he attended as the chief guest. The governor directed the political administration not only to allow the political parties to carry out political activities in Fata but also to encourage them. No society in the world can progress without positive change, he said, adding that, “We want to establish a political environment in Fata so as to bring political awareness and social development there.”Prominent among those who attended the consultative meeting were central chairman of Shaheed Bhutto Foundation and President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar, Jamaat-e-Islami, KPK Amir Prof Ibrahim, Awami National Party, KPK General Secretary Arbab Tahir, Pakistan People’s Party, KPK President Senator Sardar Ali Khan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, KPK, President Pir Sabir Shah, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, KPK, Chief Maulana Amanullah, Latif Afridi, Shah Farman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Fata parliamentary leader Munir Orakzai, MNAs and tribal elders and chieftains from Fata.Senator Farhatullah Babar said that civil and military bureaucracy was creating hurdles in ensuring reforms in Fata, particularly in political parties activities. He said there should be a proper mechanism for implementation of the reforms in Fata.Tribesmen should be taken into confidence for the tribal reforms, which he hoped must be ensured for the economic, political and economic development of the tribesmen. “These reforms themselves are essential for a durable peace in the tribal areas,” he added.Prominent lawyer and central leader of ANP Latif Afridi said that though insufficient but these reforms are milestones in the history of tribal belt, which would yield positive results if sincerely implemented. Though the government had extended political party Act to tribal areas but the military as well as political administration were not allowing politicians to carry on political activities in the tribal areas. JI, KPK, Chief Prof Mohammad Ibrahim said that the civilian government had announced reforms but establishment was not interested in its implementation. He called the Action in Aid Regulations as the blackest and most draconian for the tribal people, saying that the JI was holding successful gatherings in tribal areas. ANP, KPK, General Secretary Arbab Tahir said the tribesmen were peaceful and law abiding citizens but unfortunately some vested interests and foreign terrorists had turned the tribal areas as battlefield. He called upon tribesmen to oust the foreign terrorists from their soil.On the occasion, the tribal representatives gave their suggestions regarding political reforms in Fata, which includes the establishment of Fata Council to implement the reforms, a mechanism to downstream the reform to public, reservation of seats for women and participation of tribal people in development projects for Fata. The governor assured of consideration on suggestions put forward by tribal people and asked them to settle their disputes through consensus if they wanted peace in society.

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