ISLAMABAD: The Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms met last week with the FATA Reforms Commission, established by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi. The 10 political parties FATA Committee presented their consensus 11-point reform recommendations for the tribal areas and urged the government Commission to include their reforms in proposals to be delivered to Governor KP as requested by March 2015.

1. NEWS RELEASE
Monday, October 27, 2014
Contact: fataparties@gmail.com
Commission asked to include political parties consensus FATA reforms
ISLAMABAD: The Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms met last week with the FATA Reforms Commission, established by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi. The 10 political parties FATA Committee presented their consensus 11-point reform recommendations for the tribal areas and urged the government Commission to include their reforms in proposals to be delivered to Governor KP as requested by March 2015.
The meeting was described as meaningful both by members of the political parties FATA Committee and also by Commission Chairman and former KP Chief Secretary Ejaz Qureshi. Additional Commission members in attendance included: Lt Gen (Rtd) Syed Sabahat Hussain, Mir Laiq Shah (former Secretary to Governor KP) and Mossarat Qadeem.
Lt General Hussain also stated that the political parties FATA Committee is the apex committee on reforms for FATA, indicating that the most effective forum for reforms is that of political parties. He went on to recommend the FATA Committee to meet with senior Army officers to present and further discuss their reform proposals for the tribal areas.
Representing ANP, JI, JUI-F, MQM, NP, PPP, PML, PML-N, PTI and QWP, the political parties FATA Committee focused on recommendations to implement elected local government in FATA and also to amend Article 247 of the Constitution of Pakistan to transfer legislative powers from the President of Pakistan to parliament.
Political parties highlighted that although amendment of Constitution is the exclusive jurisdiction of parliament, many of their 11-point reforms can be enacted directly with signature of President Mamnoon Hussain after recommendation by Governor KP and the FATA Reforms Commission. These reforms include local bodies elections, increased development funds, extension of PEMRA jurisdiction, reforms to make Jirga system more democratic and independent, and strengthening of khasadar and levies forces in FATA.
Chairman Qureshi agreed with the parties recommendation to professionalize civil armed forces in FATA and also said the Commission was working to find consensus on FATA future status. He also acknowledged the need to improve the current system and expressed a desire to have public support and participation for reforms in FATA. Regarding local bodies, Lt General Hussain stated that there was an emerging consensus to form some form of representative government in FATA.
Emphasizing that reforms are needed for sustainable peace and now is the time for government to move forward on the reforms agenda, the political parties FATA Committee has asked for meetings with President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the parties consensus FATA reforms. The parties also plan to continue work with Senators and members of the National Assembly to develop a constitutional amendment bill for Article 247 to guarantee fundamental rights and shift the power to make laws for FATA to parliament, like it is for the four provinces.
Working together since 2010 and with complete support of the leadership of each of the ten political parties, the FATA Committee works to continue the reforms process for a brighter, prosperous FATA.
Please contact individual FATA Committee members for more information (contact list attached).
See complete 11-point FATA reforms recommendations attached.

2. 11-POINT FATA REFORMS RECOMMENDATIONS
Political Parties United on New Reforms for FATA
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED | DECEMBER 2013
The ten political parties represented on the Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms acknowledge that the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan deserve the same rights, freedom, protection and economic opportunities as all Pakistanis. We also agree on the urgent need to move forward with additional reforms for FATA.
We believe that political, economic, social and administrative reforms in the tribal areas are necessary to obtain sustainable peace and development in FATA. Therefore and to continue with unified political party efforts initiated in 2010, we make the following urgent recommendations for reforms in the tribal areas:
1) Peace in FATA should be guaranteed.
2) Article 247 of the constitution should be amended to guarantee fundamental rights for all tribal citizens and shift legislative power from the President of Pakistan to the parliament.
3) Local bodies elections should be held in FATA.
4) A comprehensive package should be developed for FATA and infrastructure development initiated, with special focus on health, education and employment.
5) The future status of FATA should be decided by its people.
6) Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) jurisdiction should be extended and media should be provided greater access to FATA to provide tribal citizens with opportunities for media interaction and participation.
7) The Jirga system should be made more democratic and independent.
8) Actions in Aid of Civil Power Regulation should be abolished.
9) Executive and judicial powers should be separated in FATA.
10) Citizens should not be deprived of property; inheritance law should be extended.
11) Civil armed forces (khasadar and levies) should be strengthened and professionalized.
Established in 2010, the Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms works together to demonstrate their shared commitment to promoting debate throughout Pakistan and to call for the implementation of reforms in the tribal areas. The 10 political parties on the committee continue to engage in discussions with stakeholders from FATA to build consensus, increase awareness and promote dialogue on existing and future reforms.
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3. Political Parties Joint Committee on FATA Reforms (FATA Committee)
Member Contact Information – Updated October 27, 2014
Awami National Party (ANP)
Latif Afridi, Advocate
Bushra Gohar, Central Vice President
Arbab Tahir, Central Finance Secretary
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)
Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, Ameer Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, Ameer FATA
Zarnoor Afridi, Naib Ameer FATA
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F)
Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, Vice President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Abdul Jalil Jan, Information Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Mohammad Jalal ud din, Advocate, former Ambassador
Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Special Assistant to Central Amir FATA
Abdul Rashid, General Secretary Bajaur Agency, FATA
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
Syed Asif Hasnain, MNA
Mohammad Rehan Hashmi, MNA
Aslam Afridi
National Party (NP)
Dr. Malik Baloch, Chief Minister Balochistan
Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenju, President
Mukhtar Bacha, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Mir Jan Muhammad Buledi, Spokesperson Government of Balochistan
Pakistan Muslim League (PML)
Ajmal Khan Wazir, Central Senior Vice President
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
Rehmat Salam Khattak, General Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Arsallah Khan Hoti
Ghalib Khan, MNA
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
Senator Farhatullah Babar
Kiramat Ullah Chagharmati
Rahim Dad Khan
Syed Akhunzada Chattan
Mirza M. Jihadi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Barrister Salman Afridi, Central Secretary Legal Affairs and Member CEC
Qaiser Jamal Afridi, MNA Frontier Regions NA-47, FATA
Ayesha Gulalai Wazir, MNA
Qaumi Watan Party (QWP)
Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, MPA, General Secretary
Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, MPA, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Hashim Babar, General Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Asad Afridi, President FATA