PESHAWAR - Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq has termed the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) a draconian law of the British regime enforced in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), urging the federal government to amend the law aimed at extending basic human rights to over 10 million tribal people.  
“If the FCR law is so best, then it should also be extended to the federal capital Islamabad as well,” Siraj said while speaking at a press conference after holding a meeting with the tribal elites and political parties’ leaders hailing from Bajaur Agency here at the JI provincial headquarter on Saturday. He demanded of the government to separate judiciary from administration, amend the draconian FCR law in consultation with tribal people and ensure provision of basic human rights like health and education. On the occasion, besides leaders of the Bajaur Political Alliance (BPA) in which almost all political parties, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI) and PML-Q, traders, civil society representatives and student leaders were among the participants.   
He said that the draconian law of FCR law kept the tribal people in darkness but now they would not accept this law anymore and want to practically implement the amendments already made in the law.  “Over 10 million tribesmen want reforms in FATA,” he said, adding a separate province on the patron of Gilgit-Baltistan province should be made or a legislative FATA Council should be formed. Siraj also said that the reforms should not be made through bureaucracy sitting in Islamabad rather it should be in consultation with the respective tribal people.  
He said that tribal people are now awakened and better know about their rights. “The use of force and suppressive system could not deter them,” he said, adding patriotism of tribal people should not be doubted as they rendered numerous sacrifices during Pakistan movement and later on for the protection of frontiers of the state.
Siraj urged the government to amend the law to separate judiciary from executive and provide a right of fair trial to every tribesman. He also demanded the government to give amnesty in taxes for next ten years to the people of FATA aimed at restoring their businesses shattered during the ongoing terrorism and military operations.
He said that infrastructure was completely destroyed in the recent in the region, adding educational institutions, health facilities and businesses of the people were badly affected.
The JI ameer also demanded of the incumbent federal government to ensure early return of the internally dislocated persons from FATA to their hometowns with honour.