FATA MPs call for FCR amendments

ISLAMABAD—Legislators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have expressed reservations over the abolishment of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), arguing that instead of abolishing the law, appropriate amendments should be made in consultation with the FATA lawmakers.
Talking to the reporters here at the Parliament House on Tuesday, MNA Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said that before going public with the announcement, the stakeholders should have been taken into confidence.
He said the immediate abolishment of FCR would open a pandora box. Instead, the government should take on board all the stakeholders and after thorough consultation, only appropriate amendments should be made in the law keeping in view the customs and traditions of the tribal areas.
He said a delegation of FATA MNAs had held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday and the new premier was apprised over their reservations regarding the abolishment of the FCR. Unveiling his proposals, Qadri proposed that the FCR clauses 10 and 40 should be abolished forthwith and all the reservations of the tribal elders should be taken into confidence on further amendments.

—Agencies