KHAR: People from different walks of life in Bajaur Agency on Friday complained about the government`s plan to replace the Frontier Crimes Regulation with the Riwaj Act in tribal areas and said they welcome Fata reforms but won`t accept a new system of governance violating their fundamental rights.

The grievances were voiced during a jirga held here to review the federal government`s decision about the future of Fata.

The event organised by the All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance was attended by political and religious activists, representatives of trade unions, civil society, students, educationists, journalists and elders.

Noted among speakers were All Fata Political Parties Alliance president Haji Sardar Khan, Bajaur Political Parties Alliance president Qari Abdul Majeed, JI deputy provincial chief Sahibzada Haroonur Rasheed, PPP provincial vice president Syed Akhunzada Chattan, ANP local president Malik Attaullah Khan, tribal elder Malik Abdul Salam Salarzai, PML-N local presi-dent Haji Rahat Yousaf, PTI leader Dr Khalilur Rehman, Qaumi Watan Party local chairman Mohammad Haiyan Jamali and Fata Students Organisation leader Rehan Zeb Khan.

Almost all speakers including representatives of the ruling PML-N declared the Fata reforms package announced by the federal government incomplete and unclear.

They said there was nothing special for Fata people in the package as almost of its components went against their aspirations.

The speakers said Fata reforms were a longstanding demand of the people of tribal areas but the federal government`s decision on it disappointed them.

They said most Fata residents favoured the immediate merger of their region with KP for its mainstreaming.

The speakers said five years were too long a timeframe for the merger and that the decision in that respect was wrong and unfair and was an attempt to keep tribesmen from progress and development.

They also said tribesmen won`t accept the Riwaj Act as it was another form of the draconian law of FCR.

Some speakers called the Riwaj Act a `cousin of the FCR` and demanded the laws prevalent in other parts of the country ne enforced in their region.

They asked the government to execute comprehensive reforms in tribal areas..