PTI Opposes Federal Committee on Merged Tribal Districts, Calls It Unconstitutional

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has strongly opposed the formation of a federal committee on the merged tribal districts, calling it a clear violation of provincial autonomy and a direct interference in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s constitutional jurisdiction.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, Barrister Gohar demanded the immediate dissolution of the committee, stating, “After the 25th Constitutional Amendment, the tribal areas are part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The formation of a federal committee is an unconstitutional move.”

He criticized the exclusion of elected representatives from the tribal areas, noting that five out of seven MNAs from the region belong to PTI, yet none were consulted or included in the committee. Gohar also expressed serious reservations over the appointment of PML-N’s Amir Muqam as the committee convener.

“This committee held its second meeting today, but none of our representatives attended. It’s an attempt to sideline us and undermine the rights of the people of the merged districts,” he said.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the federal government of disguising an aggressive political move as a consultative process. “The jirga already exists. What further consultation is required? The people of FATA and KP can decide their own fate.”

He warned that PTI would strongly resist any decision made without the consent of local representatives and called for the immediate scrapping of the committee.

PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi also voiced his opposition, highlighting that the tribal population is being taxed without receiving their due share of development funds. “The federal government owes over Rs700 billion to FATA. People are still living in camps. You levy taxes but deliver no funds? We reject this committee,” he said.

Afridi, a member of the SAFRON Committee, claimed he was never consulted and termed the federal initiative an “unauthorised change” to FATA’s status.

Senior PTI leader Shah Farman emphasized that under the FATA-KP merger agreement, development funds were to be delivered directly to local representatives. “FATA MNAs vote on national matters, but their own region is kept out of their legislative reach,” he said, also raising concerns about the possible revival of the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and the withdrawal of privileges granted to settled areas.

Read more: Death Toll reaches 25 in Karachi Building Collapse as corruption blamed for deadly neglect

PTI leader Sohail Afridi echoed the sentiment, warning that any amendment to FATA’s status must go through the KP Assembly. “If necessary, we will revive the jirga system ourselves. The federal government must stay within its constitutional bounds,” he asserted.

KP Law Minister Aftab Alam revealed that out of the Rs1,000 billion committed for FATA development since the merger in 2018, only Rs132 billion has been released. He also criticized the federal government for withholding KP’s funds and making unilateral decisions without consultation.

“There has been no meaningful progress on law and order despite military operations and fencing. The people of the tribal areas are being punished through continued neglect and exclusion,” Alam added.

PTI leaders concluded by warning the federal government against taking unconstitutional steps that could destabilize the region and vowed to resist any move that undermines the rights and autonomy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.