PESHAWAR: President, Awami Natioinal Party (ANP), Asfandyar Wali Khan has congratulated all tribesmen including MNAs and FATA youth over the passage of FATA reforms related bill from the National Assembly and termed it as first step towards merger of the tribal area with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement issued here Saturday, the ANP chief also expressed hope that in coming days FATA will become part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that for the last 70 years, black law was enforced in FATA and the lives of tribesmen were living worst lives. He said that the people of FATA were the main victims of the Afghan war.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said that the extension of the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court is first step towards ending the sense of deprivation among the people of FATA while their actual destination is the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and vowed to continue their struggle till the achievement of the goal.

He also called for making arrangements for the share of funds in National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for FATA.

He said that ANP have always struggled for the unity of Pakhtuns and will also be standing by them for the rights of tribesmen in future too.