An increasing number of F ATA residents are joining hands to demand the abolition of the FATA regulations as well as annulment or comprehensive amendment in the Article 247 of the constitution. Women participants of the consultation also demanded complete abolition of the FCR. ‘The FCR doesn–t even recognize the existence of women, what to talk of property and inheritance rights?’ asked a female activist. All participants demanded of mainstream political parties to rid FATA of the British Colonial era black laws. They also demanded extension of all laws including the freedom to media and rights of assembly.

‘The FCR is of no good for us at all, it is neither humane, nor admissible in this electronic age,’ Abdul Lateef Afridi Afridi, eminent lawyer and former member of National Assembly told a gathering of experts, lawyers and social rights– activists held at Peshawar Saturday.

Organized by the Center for Research and security studies (CRSS) as part of its advocacy and awareness campaign for comprehensive reforms to FATA regulations, the meeting was held to discuss the ‘Needs for Reformation, Challenges and Way Forward.’
Lateef Afridi reminded the participants of the articles 8 to 28 in the federal constitution and said all these rights must be extended to the residents of FATA as well, adding that even the FATA Tribunals had proved to be a futile patchwork.
‘We see some light on the horizon and hope we will get rid of the draconian FCR within next few years, and for this you must all continue to your struggle,’ Afridi said on an optimistic note.
Life under FCR is worse than that of animals because of no recourse to law and court. We must all join hands to get rid of this regulation that is totally inconsistent with fundamental rights.

Akhunzada Chittan, former MNA from Bajaur Agency, recalled all political efforts for reforms in the FATA system in the last few years and said there is a whole lot of condemnation and rejection of FCR and we need to take the next step.
‘We have debated enough the dark and black side of the FCR, there is no point in reiterating the obvious,’ Chittan said, adding that all FATA residents are proud Pakistanis but are deprived of the law of the land.

We need unity and political unity to extricate tribes living in the FATA from this draconian system, Chittan added, and hoped all political parties would finally step forward for mainstreaming FATA.

‘Privileged people are a class unto itself. They are all over and Maliks do not necessarily represent their respective tribes.’ Major hurdle in the way of FATA reforms is a vested interest which keeps stonewalling mainstreaming of the FATA, Chittan underlined.

Profess Ijaz Khan, Peshawar University, also urged the participants to ask for equal citizens– rights rather than using ‘tribalism’ as an inherent right of FATA residents.
Prof Ijaz Khan said ‘tribalism’ is a stage in social evolution and not an identity. It doesn–t reflect a unified code of life and that is why the entire discourse must be based on demands for equal rights of the citizens of Pakistan.
‘Use equal citizen rights as your identity and not tribal hood,’ Prof Ijaz said.