Extension of SC, HC to tribal areas appreciated

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Tribal women hailing from various tribal regions have supported the extension of Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court jurisdictions to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) despite some reservations on the relevant bill.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Nosheen Jamal, head of KHOR Organisation, working on women rights said that the bill regarding extension of jurisdiction of superior judiciary was history step that would enable to give tribal people right to appeal.

Flanked by the organization office bearers was included Shahida Shah and others, she said the move would start a new era of development and prosperity in the tribal areas. She added that extension of jurisdictions of the SC and PHC to the tribal areas were the long standing demands of every tribesmen as extension of the country’s superior courts were vital to protect their basic human rights.

She maintained the legislation would not only help ensure provision of basic rights of the tribesmen but also decrease the ‘unlimited powers’ held by political agents in tribal areas.

But, she said that the law would not be applicable until and unless the abolishment of Article 246 and 247 of the constitution. She said the tribal women could play their pivotal role in development of Fata, but they were always ignored in legislating process regarding the tribal region.

She expressed her concerns over undue delay in passage of the proposed Fata reforms bill from the Senate, which was tantamount to keep them in darkness and bringing the tribal areas at par.

She went on to say that the black law (FCR) Act was being imposed on tribal people for last several decades, depriving them of all fundamental rights. She expressed the hope the tribal people would soon get rid of it and the tribal region become part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He said the Fata merger issue had deliberately made complicated.

She said the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was inevitable to bring change in social fabric of tribal society and put them on path of development and progress.

She on the occasion, also expressed serious reservations on Riwaj Act and asked to make amendments in the Act with proper consultation with tribal people.