FATA Elders Reject Merger, Demand Restoration of Special Status

Speaking at the press conference, the elders stated that the tribal people were never consulted before the merger and that the promises made at the time of integration remain unfulfilled.

Elders of the FATA Grand Jirga have categorically rejected the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and demanded the restoration of their former special status. 

Addressing an emergency press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad, the Jirga’s president, Bismillah Khan Qabaili, led a delegation of tribal elders, leaders, and representatives from various parts of the erstwhile FATA region.

Speaking at the press conference, the elders stated that the tribal people were never consulted before the merger and that the promises made at the time of integration remain unfulfilled. They claimed that commitments regarding the NFC Award, development funds, restoration of Levies force, and the declaration of tribal districts as a tax-free zone have not been honored to date.

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The elders made it clear that tribal communities will not accept any taxes until their basic needs such as peace, employment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure are addressed. They highlighted that nearly 95% of the tribal population continues to live below the poverty line and that their deprivations have only worsened since the merger.

The Jirga also demanded full tribal ownership of mines and minerals in the region, asserting that the tribal people have both a historical and constitutional right over these resources. They strongly opposed the imposition of the “Mines and Minerals Act” in the tribal districts, stating that such decisions cannot be accepted without the consent of the tribal population.

The recent government notification establishing a new committee on tribal affairs was also rejected by the Jirga. The elders criticized the lack of genuine tribal representation in the committee and called it a diversion from the real issues facing the region.

In their final appeal, the elders urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to immediately hear the constitutional petition filed against the merger, which has been pending since 2018. They emphasized that justice for the 15 million tribal people is long overdue.

Concluding the press conference, the elders warned the government of dire consequences if it continues to marginalize the tribal population. They stressed that such policies could have far-reaching implications not just for the tribal areas, but for the entire region.