PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is taking different steps for carrying forward the FATA-KP merger process.

The shifting of courts and deputy commissioners’ offices inside tribal districts is also part of that process. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said in an interview with TNN that people want resolution of their problems in their own districts. Earlier, he said, the political agent of Khyber tribal district used to sit in Peshawar, Waziristan’s political agent was sitting in Dera Ismail Khan and others (political agents) were sitting in Bannu and Tank. “Now this practice will come to an end and deputy commissioners will serve inside their own tribal districts. People had their doubts, but the government extended the judicial and police system to tribal districts,” he said.

Shaukat Yousafzai said people have great expectations with the KP government and they want solution to their problems without delay. “Why a person should come (from Waziristan) to Dera Ismail Khan for meeting a deputy commissioner? Many people from Waziristan visit DI Khan for resolving trivial issues like obtaining domicile certificates etc. All the deputy commissioner offices will be shifted to tribal districts under the government’s decision,” he said.

The minister said those officials who don’t want to shift to tribal districts may not be serious for their jobs, but the government will have to see the interest of masses in making decisions.

“We need to establish new offices in the tribal districts; we have shortage of buildings and we will also hire buildings on rent if needed,” he said.

Shaukat Yousafzai said there are some issues, but at the same time the government is working hard to resolve these issues.

“Existence of relevant departments inside the tribal districts is imperative. Shortage of buildings is main issue which needs to be resolved,” he said.

As far as lawyers are concerned, the minister said, they can arrange space for themselves. He said judicial complexes will definitely have bar rooms for lawyers.

“The litigants and lawyers will be happy with the shifting of judicial system to merged tribal districts as it will resolve their problems,” he said.