Urdu version available at: https://www.slideshare.net/fatanews/citizens-declaration-for-fata-reforms-urdu-approved-22nd-june-2013-peshawar --- The FATA Declaration was unanimously approved by more than 300 members of FATA Reforms Councils from all tribal agencies and frontier regions at the FATA Grand Assembly on June 22, 2013 in Peshawar. The FATA Declaration represents the culmination of a lengthy dialogue and consensus-building process spanning five years of consecutive local reform council meetings and advocacy workshops regarding challenges in the implementation of already enacted political reforms in FATA and on recommendations for further reforms. The Shaheed Bhutto Foundation (SBF) first launched its campaign in 2008 to amplify the voices of FATA citizens and bring about political reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). As Pakistan enters a new era of democracy, it is pertinent that the benefits of such a change accrue to the people of FATA. The recent elections are a testament of the will of the people of FATA to establish a truly democratic system that will uphold their basic civil rights – legal, political and social. As the reforms agenda seems to have lost urgency amidst other priorities, FATA elders, representatives of political parties, ulemas, lawyers, journalists, students and women from the tribal areas gathered so that their collective voices may be heard at the highest political echelons. The consensus FATA Declaration highlights urgent reforms priorities, including effective implementation of the 2011 reforms enacted by the President of Pakistan. The declaration contains 19 recommendations, encompassing essential changes needed to ensure mainstreaming of FATA and political participation of tribal citizens. The FATA Grand Assembly also asserted that tribesmen and tribeswomen must be guaranteed the same fundamental rights enjoyed by other citizens of Pakistan. The FATA Grand Assembly was attended by the Honorable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan, who offered his endorsement of the people-driven reforms process in FATA. Senator Farhatullah Babar was also a guest of honor on this dignified occasion. Today, the approved FATA Declaration was presented to Governor Shaukatullah Khan for his consideration. In addition, the Honorable President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has graciously agreed to receive the members of the FATA Grand Assembly in July to formally hear their recommendations as stated in the FATA Declaration. The FATA Declaration now brings FATA into the limelight by amplifying the voices of its people as they push for change through reforms. Struggling for political and legal reforms, FATA citizens are working to usher in a new era of prosperity in an otherwise sidelined region of Pakistan.

1. FATA DECLARATION
APPROVED BY FATA GRAND ASSEMBLY
PESHAWAR, SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013
FATA Citizens Declaration on Reforms
FATA GRAND ASSEMBLY OF REFORMS COUNCILS
Peshawar the 22nd June, 2013
We, the tribal elders, religious clerics, political and social activists,
students, women representatives, lawyers, journalists, teachers and
other citizens from FATA, come together from all seven agencies and
frontier regions and unanimously adopt this:
CITIZENS’ DECLARATION FOR FATA REFORMS
It is our consensus, as tribal citizens, that the amendments made to the
Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in 2011 are not being implemented in
their true letter and spirit.
While paying homage to the Honorable President of the Islamic Republic
of Pakistan, who took notice of our miseries and enacted the FATA
Reforms Package of 2011, we request the President to direct for urgent
and comprehensive implementation of existing reforms.
Furthermore, we unanimously propose the following immediate changes
for further reforms in FATA:
1. The Constitutional provisions regarding FATA need to be
amended to the extent that FATA Parliamentarians could play a
role or take part in the legislation for FATA. Furthermore, the
constitution should be harmonized so as the fundamental rights
enjoyed by the rest of country should be extendable to FATA;
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2. 2. The status of FATA should be decided by its people;
3. A FATA Council elected on adult franchised basis should be
established in FATA which should be empowered to suggest to
the President of Pakistan regarding the future of FATA;
4. Local Governments should be established under FATA Local
Governments Regulation 2002 (with some amendments, if
needed) and the Jirga system should be made more democratic,
effective and representative;
5. The Political Administration should be accountable to elected
representatives of Local Governments;
6. There should be reserved seats for tribal women in the National
Assembly and Senate, like in the rest of Pakistan;
7. The Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) should either be
substantially amended or annulled to recognize the
fundamental rights of the people of FATA;
8. There should be separation of judiciary and executive as in the
whole of the country;
9. The jurisdiction of the High Court and Supreme Court of
Pakistan should be extended to FATA;
10. The civil armed forces, such as Khasadar and levies, should be
strengthened and reinforced and adequately armed;
11. Promotion of education at the grassroots level is needed in all
of FATA, while vocational training and skills development also
need special attention. Separate universities for male and
female students, colleges and technical institutes should be
established on priority basis in FATA;
12. No person, male or female, should be deprived of property
without due compensation, and the law of inheritance should
be extended to FATA;
13. Fully operational Hospitals equipped with adequate facilities
and experienced staff should be established in every Agency
and FRs of FATA. The hospitals should also have well-
equipped trauma centers. Women's and children's hospitals also
need to be established so that female and child mortality rates
can be decreased significantly;
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3. 14. Due attention should be accorded to a planned and phased
program for infrastructure development in FATA;
15. A comprehensive development package should be initiated
which will help to bring prosperity and job opportunities for
the people of FATA by exploiting natural and local resources;
16. Press and Publication ordinance and PEMRA ordinance should
be extended to FATA;
17. Actions in Aid of Civil Power Regulation 2011 should be
abolished immediately;
18. Reserved seats for FATA and FANA should be separated;
19. Imposition of General Sales Tax (GST) in Budget 2013-14 on
FATA is unanimously rejected and demanded of government to
take its decision back immediately;
We, the citizens of FATA do hereby adopt this FATA Declaration by
unanimous consent on this day 22nd June, 2013 in Peshawar.
FATA Reforms Council Members
FATA Grand Assembly
Special Note: The participants of the FATA Grand Assembly strongly
demand the restoration of peace in FATA by the government and other
concerned authorities.
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4. ABOUT THE FATA DECLARATION
The FATA Declaration was unanimously approved by more than 300 members of
FATA Reforms Councils at a FATA Grand Assembly organized by the Shaheed Bhutto
Foundation on 22nd June, 2013 in Peshawar.
The FATA Declaration represents the culmination of a lengthy dialogue and
consensus-building process spanning five years of consecutive local reform council
meetings and advocacy workshops. The Shaheed Bhutto Foundation (SBF) first
launched its campaign in 2008 to amplify the voices of FATA citizens and bring
about political reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Now, as the reforms agenda seems to have lost urgency amidst other priorities,
FATA elders, representatives of political parties, ulemas, lawyers, journalists,
students and women from the tribal areas gathered to unite regarding challenges in
the implementation of already enacted political reforms in FATA and on
recommendations for further reforms.
The FATA Grand Assembly was attended by the Honorable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan, who offered his endorsement of the people-
driven reforms process in FATA. Senator Farhatullah Babar was also a guest of
honor on this dignified occasion.
The FATA Declaration now brings FATA into the limelight by amplifying the voices
of its people as they push for change through reforms. Struggling for political and
legal reforms, FATA citizens are working to usher in a new era of prosperity in an
otherwise sidelined region of Pakistan. The FATA Declaration is a foundation for
concrete developments in this direction as SBF works to organize a FATA
Convention wherein this landmark document of consensus recommendations for
reforms in FATA will be presented to the highest level political authority in
Pakistan.
22nd June, 2013
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