The speakers of the conference were, (1) Brig.

(r) Said Nazir Mohmand; Senior IPS Associate (2) Amb. (r) Ayaz Wazir; former
Ambassador of Pakistan (3) Dr. Fakhrul Islam; Director Pakistan Study Centre, UoP Peshawar (4) Mian Iftikhar Hussain;
Secretary General ANP (5) Sahibzada Haroon ur Rasheed; Ex. MNA & Ameer, JI, FATA (6) Mr. Habibullah Khan Khatak;
Ex. Secretary SAFRON (7) Dr. Ashraf Ali; Ex. President FATA Research Centre, Islamabad (8) Mr. Khalid Rahman; Director
General Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad.

F ATA was maintaining a special status

during British India and was administered
through Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR)
since 1901. With the creation of Pakistan, its status
remained unchanged. However, its geo-strategic
importance for all the stakeholders to deliberate
threadbare upon such proposals and initiatives, and
suggest valuable and workable approaches to be
adopted in determining the status of FATA.
importance and Buffer Zone status was at the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad has been
central stage of debate at National level. Since working for many years on this important issue by
9/11, FATA remained in focus and went through organizing a number of Seminars, Roundtables,
the rough shades of worst kind of violence. The and several discussion panels and covering it in its
people of FATA are the worst affected from the
publications.
War on Terror. As the tides of violence are
receding, the realization of mainstreaming of In pursuance of the same, a Roundtable
FATA is increasing and change in its special status
Conference under the title FATA Reforms:
is gaining momentum.
Proposals, Consequences and Approaches,
A number of initiatives in the recent past are was arranged on Dec 21, 2015. The conference
coming up, aimed at reforms in the status and brought together senior experts hailing from
governance of the Federally Administered Tribal FATA, senior scholars, administrators and
Areas (FATA). It goes without saying that each of representatives of key political parties.
the proposals and initiatives highlighted by
In order to remain focus on FATA and channelize
political parties, tribal Jirgas and various think
the proposals and deliberations towards a viable
tanks has its pros and cons, merits and demerits
solution, the participants were given a recap of the
and implications with long ranging consequences
constitutional, political and people concerns and
at the constitutional, political, security, and socio-
perceptions in light of the constitutional provisions
economic plinth. It is therefore of a high value and
[1]
and dichotomies regarding the people of FATA.
They were also briefed about the initiatives,
conferences, seminars, roundtables and
publications of the host institution on the
concerned issue.
The speakers in their deliberations brought a
number of diverse opinions regarding the current
status, proposed reforms and underlined the
implications of the change in the status of FATA.
The main points discussed at the session are;
FATA is under stress and under developed
since the inception of Pakistan.
In the distant past, only intelligentsia was
aware of the problems and status of FATA,
but after the coming of Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the settled
areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it provided
an opportunity to the people of FATA to
realize the difference between the life
styles of FATA and the settled areas.
The IDPs, if repatriated to the shattered
zone after Operation Zarb-e-Azb without a
comprehensive rehabilitation package, will
find it difficult to live and manage the
damage.
There was a consensus and consistent
opinion that change in the status of FATA
is the need of the hour. It is inevitable and
if delayed will have serious consequences.
The uncertainty is haunting the people of
FATA and unpopular and knee jerk
solution may be exploited to the boil.
Talking about the legislative powers of the
FATA lawmakers, the speakers stressed on
the complete empowerment of MNAs and
1
The FATA Reforms Committee is formulated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Nov 08, 2015, comprising of five members,
i.e. Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz as its Chairman, Minister for SAFRON Lt. Gen. (r) Abdul
Qader Baloch as its Secretary, Governor KPK Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security Issues
Lt. Gen. (r) Nasir Janjua and Minister for Climate Change and Human Rights Zahid Hamid as its members.
[2]
Senators elected from FATA, to do the
legislation for FATA.
The parliamentarians of FATA are the
direct source of contact between
government and the people. So the
parliamentarians must consult the people
of their constituencies before going to the
Parliament for reforms.
Parliamentarians were enthusiastic in
tabling the 22nd Amendment Bill, but now
lack the zeal for bringing real reforms and
are shy of participating in such debates,
forums, and seminars.
Before the implementation of reforms, its
details must be shared with the
stakeholders and the people of FATA via
wide ranging consultation.
The scope of the Reforms Committee for
FATA1 be enlarged to include the
representatives of FATA. Its terms of
reference be determined and a whole sum
approach be adopted in a way that the
people of FATA feel empowered.
A whole sum reform package with
incremental approach will prevail across
FATA.
The experts emphasized to make FATA a
place worth living in peace with ample
opportunities for progress and prosperity.
The Reforms Agenda must also include a
comprehensive strategy for the
empowerment of the people of FATA, so
that they can become stakeholders in
running the affairs of FATA.
FCR; in every aspect is against the
International Human Rights, which must
 be abolished immediately, being ultra-
vires to the basic spirit of the constitution.
The 22nd Amendment Bill was also
discussed in detail, and was termed as a
historic opportunity for changing the status
of FATA, via constitutional amendments
and provisions.
Most of the representatives of the political
parties were supporting the stance of
merging FATA in KPK on the lines of
Provincially Administered Tribal Areas
(PATA). Through this the tribal status,
culture and life style of the people of
FATA can also be maintained. It was
termed as an easy, practicable and reliable
method of changing the status of FATA.
Nevertheless, some of the speakers were of
the opinion that PATA like status is not a
viable option, rather it should be
mainstreamed like other areas of Pakistan.
Making it the fifth federating unit with an
incremental approach will be prudent
option.
Temporarily, FATA should be detached
from the Governor KPK and brought under
the FATA Council for one year, and then
reforms package be prepared and peoples
will and wish be determined through
referendum.
Referendum is also sought as a viable
option, through which the direct will of the
common people can be sought as a
determining factor.
It was also highlighted that the National
Action Plan emphasizes on mainstreaming
of FATA for ensuring peace in the region.
The need for reforms highlighted in the
Prepared by an IPS Task Force | For queries: Mairaj-ul-Hamid, Asst. Research Coordinator, mairaj@ips.net.pk
[3]
ISPR Press Release has augmented the
process.
FATA Legislative Council along with a
separate governor/administrator was also
among the opinions shared in the
conference.
Creation of FATA Council and holding of
Local Bodies Election must be done on
emergency basis.
For the economic uplifting of FATA, it
must be made an integral part of China
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). All
the seven tribal agencies should be linked
with each other via a lateral road to the belt
from Bajaur to Wana in South Waziristan.
Sustainable Development Goals set out by
United Nations should be linked to FATA
for uplifting its every sector of life.
To the end of the office of the President be
used to change the status of FATA as given
in the constitution.
The broad consensus was that change in the
status of FATA is inevitable, at this point
of time and the issue be tackled seriously
with acceptability factor overriding.
In concluding the whole debate, the speakers
stressed upon the point that the current wave of
reforms is a historical and feasible opportunity,
which should be availed by the lawmakers, policy
makers and other stakeholders. The current
consensus of the political parties and lawmakers is
the milestone for bringing reforms. What may be
the reform agenda, but it should be resonating with
the voice of the people and should bring positive
changes in the life style of the people of FATA
despite of creating more disturbance and anarchy
in the locality and the whole country.
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