Tribal Areas: Status and Reforms
A Study of 2018 Manifestos of Pakistan’s Political Parties1
A
s Pakistan proceeds on its journey to
democracy, general elections of July 25, 2018
are another landmark. A significant activity
related to electoral process is the issuance of
manifestos by the political parties contesting to win
public support. Generally, the manifestoes are rarely
consulted by voters in making their choices and the
governments coming to power by winning the
elections, too do not ascribe importance to what they
had pledged to the nation, yet the manifestos do not
lose significance. They present the well thought out
and documented party positions on issues of national
significance.
One such significant issue relates to the newly
mainstreamed tribal areas (previously known as
FATA). The following review is an attempt to
understand the approach of the most prominent
political parties on status and reforms in these areas.
On May 24, 2018, National Assembly of Pakistan
approved 25th amendment in the constitution, which
paved the way for historic FATA-KP merger, with the
support of almost all major political parties.2 FATA
reforms were a long overdue demand of the people
and a dire need to normalize and develop the violence
ridden area. The reforms encompass many rights to
the people of that area, that were hitherto not available
to them due to legal and constitutional constrains of
FCR and other British-age administrative set-up, a
blend of colonial and customary rules disguised as
1
Except JUI-F and Pk MAP who alleged that people of FATA weren’t as consulted as they should be. Both parties
emphasized that they weren’t opposed to the reforms, but the process under which merger was taking place.
2
Except JUI-F and Pk MAP who alleged that people of FATA weren’t as consulted as they should be. Both parties
emphasized that they weren’t opposed to the reforms, but the process under which merger was taking place.
[1]
tribal code. The amendment has made the job easy for
the upcoming government that it will have a package,
drawn out after extensive consultations. However, it
will be useful only when the prevailing harmonious
environment regarding the reform package is
maintained.
Looking at the manifestos of the prominent political
parties, collectively a positive picture emerges.
Except for MQM, every major party has given space
to the subject in its manifesto and, more importantly,
there is no substantial difference in their approaches.
PML-N has vowed to work with KP government to
make sure the implementation of FATA merger bill;
the manifesto says: “We will work with KP
government to implement the historic decision of
FATA merger” (p.65). This is a comprehensive
statement which in effect covers all important
recommendations made by the Reform committee,
headed by former minister Sartaj Aziz, and included
in the bill. Following discussion helps understand the
perspective of various parties on some of the major
issues related to FATA reform.
▪ The most important issue related to the
empowerment of the people of FATA is
devolution in the authority to the grass root
level. PPP in this regard has said that it, “will
ensure empowering the people through adult
franchise… and hold local government
elections” (p.46). PTI has vowed to empower
 people up to the village council level. Its
manifesto also promises that these councils
will be established within 2018 (p. 19), which
sounds too ambitious in current setting. ANP
has promised to, “Make certain that the new
districts (formerly agencies) get full
representation based on their actual
population, in provincial and national
assemblies” (p.22). MMA, however has
mentioned FATA in an overall context of the
‘backward areas’, and pledged that “concrete,
real, practical and permanent measures will be
taken” to bring the areas at par with the rest of
country. (p.4)
▪ Besides the representation and empowering
issue, rehabilitation and facilitation programs
for the displaced residents of former FATA is
expected to be another vital agenda point for
the government in the coming days. Almost
every party has shed light on this issue in its
manifesto. Once again, there is no major
difference in their approaches. PPP has
promised a “large scale program for the post
conflict rehabilitation”. It has also mentioned
that share will be given from NFC award to
FATA (p.46). PTI has vowed to launch a
“mega development plan by allocating 3% of
federal divisible pool”, on annual basis by
fully associating the people in formulation
and execution of the plan. (p.20). ANP has
promised to evolve a standard policy for
compensation, a comprehensive public
insurance policy for the victims of terrorism,
violence and sectarianism. It has mentioned
that the policy will give special attention to
the newly merged districts and has also vowed
that for the initial years, a chunk of funds will
be diverted from the settled districts to the
new districts, to help them boost their socio-
economic activities (p.20).
▪ The post conflict rehabilitation includes a
major subject, which is IEDs, clearing
landmines and facilitating people’s
movement by reducing check posts. As
mentioned before, PML-N has vowed to work
for the whole program. PPP says it will
address serious concerns of the tribesmen
regarding check posts and land mines (p.45).
ANP has addressed the issue in much detail.
It has pledged to reduce the number of check
posts and handing them over to the civilian
Police force. It also promises that it will give
top priority to the removal of landmines and
launch an awareness and training program
[2]
about protection from landmines. PPP has
also promised the return of IDPs with special
programs and resources allocated. (p.45)
▪ FCR: despite the remarkable success of
passage of the reforms bill, many observers
still fear that it has a number of vague areas,
and that the notorious FCR may once again be
revived in another form. PPP and ANP in the
wake of such fears pledged to thwart any such
possibility. PPP points out that if it was the
case, it will be replaced with appropriate
legislation respecting fundamental human
rights (p. 45). ANP has also mentioned that
imposition of FCR in new grab won’t be
allowed (p.20).
▪ The economic development of FATA has a
major dependence upon the trade routes along
the border with Afghanistan. PPP has stressed
that it will restore these “traditional regional
trade routes on which tribal people were
dependent” (p.46). ANP has gone even
further by promising to open and name
multiple new trade routes at the border. The
manifesto says, “ANP will make every effort
to develop and expand trade at crossing points
Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor ada,
Kharlachi, Arunda, Garam Chishma and also
start using new routes” (p.22). It also says that
ANP will work for building physical and
intellectual infrastructure in the new districts
on priority to lay sound and sustainable basis
for their speedy socio-economic development
and to enable the people of the area to
compete with other regions. (p. 21)
Town Planning has also been addressed by
ANP. It says that town planning would be
introduced in the new districts on urgent basis
with the participation and support of the local
people and civil amenities will be provided to
all existing towns and urban centers in the
new districts. (p. 22) Talking about CPEC,
ANP has also signaled that it will pursue a
significant project of North Western highway
that would connect Bajaur to Waziristan and
Zhob, joining the CPEC, after passing
through all the new districts (p.22).
Talking about the employment and natural
resources, PTI has promised that it will,
“Ensure job creation in the tribal areas,
especially with investments to harness natural
resources of the region” PTI (p.20). It’s worth
mentioning that under the heading of “Newly
merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”,
 ANP has given a detailed program on
Education, health, ownership over land and
natural resources and economic development
of the former tribal agencies. (p.20-22)
The people of FATA have gone through hard times.
They have given sacrifices as the direct victims of war
on terror, along with fellow countrymen. It’s a good
omen that there is consensus among the polity that
people of the area be given rights like other Pakistanis,
and the area should be brought at par with the rest of
the country in terms of social welfare and human
development. However, the real challenge for the new
government and the Parliamentarians will be to
translate this consensus into a doable plan that’s
acceptable to, in line with the wishes of people of the
area and honors the local culture and traditions.
The area borders Afghanistan, which is still very
unstable, specially, in terms of security. This
instability makes it inevitable to remain vigilant about
the security dimension. Nevertheless, when the
situation gets better, the geographical location of the
area can be surely used as a trade route for Central
Asia. It can thus, usher the tribal areas, now part of
KPK, as well as the country into a new era of
economic development.

Prepared by:
Bakht Noor
Trainee Research Coordinator
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

For queries:
Syed Nadeem Farhat, Senior Research Coordinator,
nadeem@ips.net.pk | www.ips.org.pk

[3]