SC, PHC jurisdiction extension to Fata: Dispensation of justice to be ensured

The extension of jurisdiction of Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) will ensure dispensation of justice to the tribal people who have been denied of the basic rights for the last 70 years.
This was stated by a senior parliamentarian from Fata, Sajid Hussain Turi, while talking to a group of reporters regarding the recent passage of 'The Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill, 2018' by the Senate.
The Senate on Friday last passed the bill which had already been approved by the National Assembly and it was sent to the President by the chairman Senate for his final assent to become an act of the Parliament.
"It's a welcoming development, as it was a longstanding demand of the people of Fata who are fed up with the decade old draconian Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR)," the MNA from Kurram Agency said, adding it is step towards bringing the people of Fata into mainstream.
He criticized Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) for creating hurdles in implementation on the Fata reforms, saying that because of the resistance of the two political parties, much progress was not made on the reforms despite the passage of one whole year when the federal cabinet approved the Fata Reforms.
"We are hopeful that the next government would keep the implementation of Fata Reforms on its priority, as the reforms are the only solution to the problems of the tribal people," he said.
He said that as per the reforms, representation should be given to the Fata in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly in the upcoming general election as a gesture to restore the confidence of the people of tribal areas.
"This representation in the provincial assembly would provide an opportunity to the public representatives
to raise the issues of the people at the provincial level," he said.
He also thanked all the political parties and the military for extending their support to the reforms proposed for the eventual merger of the Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.