ISLAMABAD: The FATA reforms committee, comprising ten political parties, has urged the parliamentarians to help them push for the new reforms with the government, arguing that urgent reforms are needed for peace in the northwestern tribal areas and across Pakistan.

The 10 political parties FATA Committee met with a group of senior Senators to discuss the need for FATA reforms here Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, various Senators drew attention to the fact that legal system in FATA was unlike anywhere in the world. Many also expressed their strong desire for tribal people to receive the same rights as other Pakistanis.

The lawmakers went on to say that FATA people are still wrongly treated as “subjects” of the country instead of citizens.

“Only in FATA the authorities are allowed to destroy houses as punishment for an alleged crime,” said Senator Mushahid Hussain.

FATA committee member, MNA Ayesha Gulalai of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) welcomed the interest of the senators saying, “the separation of powers in FATA is of utmost importance and any new local government system must truly empower the people and not just the political agents.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) FATA Committee member, Arsallah Khan Hoti emphasized, “This year is very important for Afghanistan and also for FATA and Pakistan. 2014 is the year that our 11-point reforms must be implemented by government.”

He went on to ask the parliamentarians to do the hard work of advocating for the reforms with others in the National Assembly and Senate.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak also pointed out the false statements that are often made about FATA, such as arguments that local government elections cannot be held due to the law and order situation.

“If National Assembly elections can be held in FATA, then why not local elections?” he asked.

Members of the FATA committee disagreed and call statements which suggest tribal people as disrespectful of the law not true and misleading.

MNA Gulalai also pointed out importance of auditing the funds to FATA Secretariat and political agents, as according to him they currently have no oversight, transparency or accountability.

As a result, many FATA citizens feel that they are the victims of corruption while not seeing the true benefit of the development funds being spent in FATA, he said.

The ten political parties of the FATA Committee are on a nationwide tour to give voice to the new consolidated reforms demands for the Pakistani tribal areas. The parties are united on the reforms agenda after several All Parties Conferences with ANP, JI, JUI-F, MQM, NP, PML-N, PML, PPP, PTI and QWP.

The FATA Committee has presented their reforms recommendations to SAFRON Minster Lt. General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and plans to meet the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister, parliamentary committees and the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor soon to discuss their urgent 11-point reforms agenda.