Khattak supports full merger of Fata into KP

peshawar — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Thursday that the PTI-led provincial government supported complete merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that it was the best available option in the given circumstances.

He was talking to a delegation of senators and MNAs and other elders of tribal areas at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here. The delegation included MNAs Nasir Khan, Al Haj Shahji Gul, Gulab Jamal Khan, Senator Momen Khan and others.

A phase wise merger would create problems, Khattak said. “If the merger is to take place then it has to take place in total and not partially or phase wise,” he said.

“It is very simple. If we are sincere about the merger, we just need to extend country’s laws and system of governance including the local government plan to the tribal areas”.

There was no constitutional bar on the merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said, adding that a reforms process should be initiated with consensus. Anything beyond this plan would not be acceptable to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal people, he added. The chief minister said his plan was to empower tribal people as per the devolution plan of the province.

He appreciated the willingness of parliamentarians of tribal area, adding that he fully understood the concerns and sentiments of the elected representatives and assured them of full support in struggle for complete merger of Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Regarding Fata reforms, he said he had already given his views about it at different forums, including the apex committee. The chief minister called upon the elected representatives to make their own decisions for their own future.

‘They should go through the provincial government recommendations and develop a consensus after that we would move within the constitution to get our rights. It is a very sensitive issue and should not be left at the back burner,” he said.

However, Khattak asked parliamentarians and elders to reach a consensus for making a better strategy for their future and their people. He said “we ought to make Pakistan strong and stable through our collective efforts”.