The 104th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) was aired on the topic of “FATA Integration, a Step Towards Social Cohesion”.
The first guest on show, Ms. Nousheen Aurakzai, a social activist, noted that the merger of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been a longstanding dream of tribesmen, though materialized legally but the practical integration still has a long way to go. The basic objective of integration was to foster social cohesion and inclusion, access to justice as equal citizens and abolish the black law of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). With the merger, the people of merged tribal districts are equally entitled to the fundamental rights as available to the citizens in the rest of the country.
The women of merged districts also need awareness about and education on their constitutional rights as the research-based evidence suggests that only by human rights education, can human rights violation be prevented. The female representation of the tribal areas in the decision-making processes is critical for inclusive policy making considerate of the issues of concern to tribal women and their socio-political and economic needs. To bring the region at par with the other parts of the country, the former FATA residents must be given ample opportunities of social mobility and access to health, educational and legal services as top-most development priorities.
The second guest on show, Mr. Faiq Nawaz, Producer, Radio Pakistan and also a journalist, noted that the process of democracy is slow and gradual, but it is the only available way to uphold equal citizenry, good governance and rule of law. And now that the tribal residents can participate in the democratic processes, it is their best opportunity to be a part of their regional and broader national development. The role of media in extremely important to connect newly merged districts with the other parts of the country on the information sharing and cooperation mechanisms critical to development. Besides, it should also aim to educate the tribal populace on the constitutional rights available to them, and how abiding by these ideals is important for peace and development.
The third guest on phone, Mr. Wali Khan, Advocate, High Court Peshawar, said that the constitutional outreach to the tribal districts was need of the hour to foster an environment conducive to equal citizenry, given how FCR was depriving the tribal population of their due rights.
The fourth guest on phone, Dr. Ashraf Ali, a senior journalist, noted that while the reforms can help integrate the region, the potential of literature and cultural peacebuilding practices should also be utilized.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of strengthening social cohesion and promoting peaceful co-existence.