RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Women rights activists belonging from different agencies of Fata and periphery regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have demanded for the tribal women economic, political empowerment and their active participation in decision making and electoral process.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Qabaili Khor (Tribal sister) Organisation Project Coordinator, Nousheen Jamal termed that the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a historic step, which could not only ensure all fundamental rights to tribal people but will open era of development and progress in tribal region.

She viewed that the tribal women had remained vulnerable in wake of the prolonged militancy in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), which should be provided ample opportunity to play their due role in mainstream politics as well as to ensure their participation in decision making and electoral process.

Nosheen said the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the only option to get rid the tribal people from the decade-old colonial, the Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) Act. She added the tribal women were remained marginalized in presence of the authoritarian law and didn’t highlight their issues an appropriate manner.

The rights activist sought the effective mechanism to be evolved to ensure speedy justice to the tribal women.

She said the special seats should be reserved to ensure participation of tribal women in local bodies’ elections and general polls.

She also demanded that announcement of a special financial package for tribal women to empower them economically and equal opportunities to play their effective role in mainstream politics and economic development of the country.

Flanked by the organization office-bearers, Shahida Shah, Sakina, and women of periphery regions of the province, Nousheen hoped that the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in light of the 31st constitutional amendment by the parliament will usher a new era of development in periphery regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which remained in troubled and underdeveloped for long decades and also bring positive change in social fabric of the tribal society.