Religious Minorities in FATA need to be empowered

Zar Ali Khan Afridi Chairman Tribal NGOs Consortium welcomes government decision to nominate Maliks from  religious minorities in Khyber Agency-FATA. Reforms in FATA and especially integration of religious minorities is appreciated and a laudable act but at same time we demand of government to work to empower people of FATA and its religious minorities as well who should be considered as equal and empowered citizens. Besides government should also realize women as human beings and as citizens in FATA where there is no concept of women empowerment whether it is politics, parliament, economic and social life and matter. Government should focus on protecting and defending human rights, women rights, children rights and religious minorities rights in FATA by bringing more and more positive, constructive and human friendly reforms and its implementation in letter and spirit. We know throughout history of FATA and role of Maliks has not been positive and they have always tried to keep people backward and gain petty interest. By nominating religious minorities as Lungi Holdres will not help solve the long standing issues confronting people of FATA in general and religious minorities in particular.