KHAR: Jamaat-i-Islami leaders on Monday vowed to continue to make efforts to bring about a positive change in the lives of the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

This was stated by JI provincial general secretary Shabir Ahmad Khan and Fata chapter emir Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed while addressing a public meeting here.

They said that the misuse of Frontier Crimes Regulation and absence of constitutional rights in the tribal areas were the major causes of the backwardness and deprivation of the tribesmen.

JI Bajaur emir Qari Abdul Majeed Yazdani, naib emir Haji Sardar Khan, Maulana Wahid Gul and others also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Ahmad said that his party had been struggling for extension of constitutional rights to the tribal areas to ensure equal rights to the tribesmen.

He said that tribesmen were the mostpeaceful and loyal citizens, but misuse of FCR and absence of constitutional rights had made their lives miserable.

Mr Ahmad said that JI lawmakers would soon table a bill in the parliament seeking implementation of article 247 of the constitution to transfer powers from the president to the parliament for provision of fundamental rights to the people of tribal areas.

He also criticized the tribal legislators for not raising voice in the parliament for basic rights for the Fata people.

Speaking on the occasion, JI Fata chief Haroon Rasheed said that the party would continue efforts for enforcement of Islamic laws in the tribal areas.

Mr Rahseed also asked the federal government to extend local bodies system to the tribal region to ensure basic facilities to the tribesmen.

GIRLS RIGHTS: Speakers at a seminar held in connection with the International Day of Girl Child here the other day expressed concern over rising discrimination against girls in Fata,and vowed to work for promotion of theirrightsin the region.

Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Spare) organised the seminar, where a large number of social and human rights activists and representatives of various civil society organisations were in attendance.

They speakers said that the aim of the day was to raise awareness about the different types of discrimination and abuse of girls across the world.

They said that the day had been observed annually since 2012 under the United Nations declaration to raise awareness about the issues and challenges facing girls around the world.

The speakers stressed the need of collective efforts to ensure equal rights to girlsin Fata.They asked the government to set up more girls` schools and colleges in every tribal agency.

On the occasion, Sparc`s coordinator Hanifullah Jan said that raising awareness among people about equal rights to girls was need of the hour as girls in the tribal areas had been deprived of their basic rights.