Government keen on consolidating democracy in Pakistan

LONDON (PPP)-Spelling out present Government's priorities, Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Wajid Shamsul Hasan said these are to restore peace in the restive tribal regions and make the country safe for democracy and cast itself as a modern and progressive model state among the Muslim nations and rid the society of the scourge of terrorism and extremism.

In his keynote address at the Wilton Park Conference on "Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas: Options for a more coordinated policy approach" at Sussex on the southern coast, the High Commissioner said to achieve success Pakistan needs space and assistance.

" It has to clear pile of backlog of socio-economic problems inherited from a dictatorship that have crippled Pakistan's economy. Predominantly it has to fight a war on terrorism"”yet another legacy of the past policy of the rulers who had taken their western supporters for a ride by running with the hare and hunting with the hound."

Mr.Hasan pointed out that if West wants peace and stability in Afghanistan restored, it must ensure a strong democracy in Pakistan.

He said under the strong leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, the Government was striving to bring FATA back into civilisation and need help from friends to make the task easier for overcoming the challenges.

The top diplomat warned that failure to help sustain and foster the democratic culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence or if the democracy subverted again in Pakistan, it could be disastrous for the entire region.

Mr.Hasan observed that time was now opportune to further facilitate regional and international coordination and co-operation in FATA and give people of the region to progress and prosper now that a democratically elected government was in place in Pakistan.

Giving the history of FATA, the High Commissioner said the region

comprising seven agencies had enjoyed autonomy in running their affairs since British times. They had their own laws and customs and the central government in Islamabad dealt with them through a Political Agent. This system was working well till 9/11 whose aftermath dramatically changed the situation.

Following the US attack on Afghanistan, he said a number of foreigners and local Taliban escaped into FATA. Some of the extremists started challenging the writ of the state. In December 2001, Pakistan sent its army to the Tribal Areas to curb the undesired elements. Another purpose of the deployment was to help in the development work in the area. It was the first time in history that army entered some areas which were never controlled from the centre.

The High Commissioner noted that the tribal areas had remained isolated, neglected, economically under developed and politically deprived.

"The economic indicators of the areas are pathetic and basic facilities almost non-existent. Literacy rate is 17%, the lowest in the country. Female literacy is only 2.7%. The cultivated area is 6.93%. Politically, the residents have recently been given the right to vote but political parties are still not allowed to function there."

He underscored FATA's importance in the war on terror describing it as a multifaceted war. A comprehensive strategy has been devised to deal with the situation.

"Apart from the use of force and military means, political, economic and social reforms are required to bring a permanent and substantive change in the life of the people there. We are to win the heart and minds of the people.  Majority of the people are peace loving and want to develop their area. We are to help them."

Mr.Hasan said breaking the isolation of the tribal region and bringing the tribes to the mainstream national life is long overdue. The hundred year old FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulations) needs drastic changes if not to be totally annulled, with a view to ensuring a just and fair legal system guaranteeing basic rights to the tribal people and bringing them at par with the people of the rest of the country.

He further said the FCR has come under severe criticism by the human rights activists, civil society and the people in the tribal areas. It is considered to be a faulty law.

The High Commissioner mentioned that Pakistan's first popularly elected Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took major steps towards integrating the Tribal people into the mainstream national life.

In December 1973, former Malakand Agency and the states of Amb, Swat, Dir and Chitral were assigned to the province of NWFP under the provision of Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA).

Furthermore, he added the present government's policy on FATA is to bring its people into national mainstream. "This was incorporated in the Charter of Democracy signed by the PPP and PML (Nawaz) in London on 15 May 2006. The two major parties agreed that "FATA shall be included in the NWF Province in consultation with them".

Mr.Hasan asserted that repealing the FCR was also the desire of martyred PPP leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but she could not get time to complete the process. To repeal the FCR has been included in the PPP manifesto.

He said Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani announced in his first speech to the parliament that the FCR be repealed. This shows the priority the present government attaches the reforms in FATA.

The government, according to the High Commissioner is following the policy of three Ds that is Dialogue, Development and Deterrence with an objective to bring lasting peace to the FATA and put tribal people to peace and development.

"This is the new government's comprehensive strategy to use all methods rather than resorting to the use of force as the only option to address the situation," Mr. Hasan said adding that it has constituted a cabinet committee to deliberate and suggest course of action to amend the FCR and bring the tribal people to the mainstream national life.

Speaking about the ongoing conflict in FATA, he said Pakistan is at war in tribal region against the extremists and terrorists.

" In FATA we are following a pro-country policy, based on national interest to curb militancy. We are working on a three pronged (3-D) strategy.  First we give priority to "Dialogues". Second step is "Development", by which we would be able to win their hearts and third step is "Deterrence", when we would be compelled to take action in case someone challenges the writ of the government."

The envoy explained that the strategy is focused on empowerment of the locals and political engagement. It contains three main elements: political, economic and military. These include reviving and strengthening the office of political agent and augmenting clout of the Tribal Maliks; socio-economic uplift programmes; and calibrated use of force where and when required.

Calling on the international community, he said it has a great chance in supporting the democratic government in Pakistan to pursue a comprehensive policy in FATA.

" A democratic system is structurally more responsive to the real needs of the people and neglect of the real needs of the people is what is behind the difficulties we face in FATA."

Mr.Hasan said In addition to fighting the terrorists, the international community must hasten its actions in helping his government turn the flagging economy round.

FATA is the most significant test case in this regard, he pointed out and said there is dire need to generate employment in order to pull the youth from the terrorists' payroll. "The ignorance that breeds extremism must be combated through schools imparting modern education."

The High Commissioner said the European Union, in particular, Britain should expedite and upgrade their investments in various development projects in FATA in addition to launching capacity building programmes for our institutions.

" We would also like to see an expeditious materialisation of the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) initiative. Only through following such a strategy will the people of FATA will be able to contribute to peace and stability. There is much of talk with little follow up action as compared to the magnitude of the problem.

"Our effort is to mobilise our people behind the policies of the government as we move forward with a political dialogue to complement our military strategy aimed at achieving peace agreement with those who desire peace and are willing to lay down their arms."

Mr.Hasan said the Doctrine of Reconciliation given by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed is a roadmap to a new Pakistan and a new era of peace and cooperation.

"The Bhutto doctrine is the new century's equivalent of the Marshall Plan. An economically viable Pakistan will be the centrepiece of the victory of pluralism."

Mentioning drone attacks in FATA, he said these are threatening to undo what has already been achieved in this difficult war.

"Our allies have to be more sensitive to our concerns and should rather put their faith in the professional competence of Pakistan's armed forces in taking actions by themselves in the tribal areas. Our partners can help us in sharing credible and actionable intelligence."