Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 28 May 2018

Pakistan approves bill to merge tribal regions with country

By RIAZ KHAN
Associated Press
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)
— The assembly of north-
western Khyber Pakhtunkh-
wa province approved a
bill Sunday to merge the
tribal regions along the
Afghan border with its ter-
ritory, paving the way to
granting equal rights to
about 5 million people in
the restive area.
The milestone step comes
after both houses of parlia-
ment had earlier approved
granting equal rights to the
tribes that have been gov-
erned by discriminatory
laws since British colonial
rule. The bill now goes to
President Mamnoon Hus-
Supporters of the hard-line religious party, Jamiat Ulema Islam, protest against a bill to merge
the tribal region along the Afghan border with its territory, at the main entrance of the provincial
assembly in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, May 27, 2018.
Associated Press
sain to be signed into law. to media outlets in the pro- tion in the Federally Ad-
Haji Abdul Rehman, a tribal cess, said police officer Ka- ministered Tribal Areas.
elder from the Mohmand mal Hussein. Any decision should have
tribal area and member Maulana Lutfur Rehman been made while the situ-
of the Grand Tribal Jirga of JUI said in the assembly ation was clam where the
(Council), welcomed the that the tribes have a right real desire of its people
step saying it will give the to determine their fate. could be reflected,” said
tribes rights other Pakistanis The regions remain effec- the statement, adding that
enjoy, in addition to bring- tively lawless and in recent “any military and political
ing development and fa- years have become a ha- approach without bilateral
cilities to the region. ven for militants. consultation regarding the
Likely fearing loss of politi- Neighboring Afghanistan tribal regions will be seen as
cal influence in the region, also expressed reservations unilateral and against the
hardliner religious Jamiat over the process saying 1921 pact between British
Ulema-e-Islam party, how- it should have involved a India and Afghanistan.”
ever, opposed the process consensus among the re- Islamabad rejected Ka-
saying the region’s popula- gion’s residents. bul’s stance saying Parlia-
tion should have been con- The Afghan presidential ment’s decision reflects the
sulted before any decision palace said in a statement will of the people.
was taken. Saturday that the Afghan Afghanistan’s national se-
Outside the assembly government has repeat- curity adviser Hanif Atmar
hundreds of the party’s edly shared its concerns is in Islamabad leading a
charged supporters tried through diplomatic chan- delegation. It is not clear
to block entry to the as- nels with Pakistan and the whether his presence was
sembly; police used batons international community related to this develop-
and tear gas to disperse regarding any unilateral ment but he will meet with
them. moves along the Durand his Pakistani counterpart
Protesters threw stones in- Line that separates the two and other political and
juring six policemen, dam- countries. military officials during his
aging vehicles belonging “There is a military situa- stay.q