Barrister Saif voices reservations over committee on merged districts

Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Saif, has said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has expressed serious reservations over the recently formed committee on the merged districts and has formally communicated its concerns to the federal authorities.
Speaking to the media after attending the committee meeting in Islamabad as the Chief Minister’s representative, Dr. Saif said that the formation of the committee without prior consultation with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is highly questionable. The Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police KP also participated in the meeting.
“The merged districts are an integral and sensitive part of KP. Any decisions affecting these areas must be made in consultation with the provincial government,” he said. “It is unacceptable that the province, the primary stakeholder, was neither consulted nor informed prior to the formation of this committee.”
Mr Saif criticized the selection process of the committee members, questioning the legitimacy and role of Federal Minister Amir Muqam. “Who is Amir Muqam to decide the fate of the merged districts? He is a politically rejected figure who entered parliament through Form 47,” Dr. Saif alleged. “Such individuals cannot be entrusted with decisions on the future of the tribal districts.”
He stressed that the objectives behind the merger of the tribal districts with KP were to address historical deprivations and ensure inclusive governance. “Without the participation of the people of the merged districts and the KP government, any decisions taken will not be accepted.”
Dr. Saif reiterated the KP government’s commitment to the rights and development of the tribal areas and warned against unilateral moves that could undermine the trust and aspirations of the local population.