The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are still governed by a century-old legal code known as the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). That includes the practice of collective punishment, allowing government authorities to hold entire clans responsible for the crimes of individuals. But the changes are being delayed by political squabbles as Pakistan gears up for a general election due sometime next year. “More than 90% of tribesmen also want to merge the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,” Hussain said as up to 2,000 tribesmen shouted slogans such as “Go FCR Go,” and “We demand merger of FATA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”. Shahabuddin Khan, a tribal lawmaker from Bajaur district, said they would continue pressuring the government until the FCR was abolished and the tribal areas were fully incorporated into the rest of Pakistan.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 10, 2017 12:00 UTC