(By Shaheen Shah)
KHYBER — The Khyber Union has issued a powerful call for restoring peace, safeguarding tribal rights, and reinstating the former special status of FATA, warning that continued neglect of tribal communities would be a national tragedy.
Addressing a press conference, Khyber Union Central President Hashim Khan, former President Murad Saqi, Professor Abdul Baqi, Haji Abdul Samad, Jameel Maqam, Haji Khalil, and several other members said that decades of unrest have crippled the entire region. They stressed that the time has come for the state to address the issues of the tribal districts with sincerity and urgency.
The leaders stated that education, healthcare, and development are the fundamental pillars of a stable society, yet conditions in these sectors have worsened rather than improved since the FATA merger. They emphasized that instead of the “flawed merger,” the government must either establish FATA as a separate province or form an empowered, elected FATA Legislative Council, enabling tribal people to decide their own future.
They added that FATA was constitutionally recognized as the fifth unit of Pakistan, but abolishing this distinctive status was a constitutional mistake, leading to lawlessness and instability. The leaders warned that if the promises made at the time of the merger were not fulfilled, the Khyber Union would launch a robust movement.
During the press conference, it was noted that tribal communities continue to face
