In a blistering reaction to the recent federal government action, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has categorically rejected the constitution of a new committee for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s merged districts, terming it an unconstitutional abuse and outright breach of provincial autonomy.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan spoke bluntly, criticizing the federal government for infringing on the constitutional rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He told reporters that the committee headed by Federal Minister Engineer Amir Muqam acts contrary to the letter and the spirit of the 18th Constitutional Amendment that gives provinces the exclusive right over local governance, which also encompasses tribal affairs and the jirga system.
“This committee is a blatant interference in the province’s matters. It must be dissolved immediately,” Gohar demanded. “The tribal jirga has already been constituted. Why impose another one from Islamabad?”
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PTI announced a complete boycott of the committee’s meetings, with its lawmakers from the merged districts refusing to participate in what they termed a “federal overstep.” According to Gohar, none of the PTI’s elected representatives from the tribal areas, where the party holds significant strength, attended the committee’s second meeting.
Sheikh Waqas Akram, another senior PTI figure, wasn’t one to shy away either. He hinted that the committee’s true intention wasn’t to govern but to control FATA’s mineral resources. “This is not administrative reform; it’s minerals. The government wants to take control of the wealth of the tribal belt in the name of restructuring,” he accused.
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Financial injustice was another burning concern raised by PTI leaders. The party highlighted that over Rs700 billion owed to the merged districts under the NFC award remains unpaid.
“The federal government keeps blocking our share. They’ve released only Rs132 billion out of a promised Rs1,000 billion since the 2018 merger,” said KP Law Minister Aftab Alam. “This is sheer injustice to the people of the tribal areas. If they really care about FATA’s development, they should release the funds instead of forming useless committees.”
The PTI argued that these funds are critical for the prosperity and uplift of the merged districts, and without financial justice, the formation of committees holds no meaning.
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Former KP governor Shah Farman again stated that the task of the merged districts was transferred to the provincial government during the PTI’s time. He said the development process must be under the control of elected lawmakers and not federal committees.
Iqbal Afridi, a member of the Saffron Committee, echoed this sentiment, calling the move a political stunt. “No meaningful discussions have happened in parliament. This is just optics,” he said.
Barrister Gohar wrapped up the press conference with a strong message: “The people of FATA and KP know how to make their own decisions. We will protect the constitutional rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at all costs. This committee has no legitimacy in the eyes of the people.”