ISLAMABAD (May 26 2009): Sungi Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on Monday claimed that 50 percent Taliban are being recruited from Southern Punjab, 40 percent from NWFP, nine percent from Sindh and only one percent from Balochistan. Asad Rahman, a representative of Sungi Development Foundation stated this while speaking at a seminar on 'Development in Fata: Opportunities and Challenges' jointly organised by Tribal Development Forum and Sungi Development Foundation here. He said that according to a survey conducted by Sungi Development Foundation, it was revealed that Punjab is the hub of Taliban as 50 percent Taliban recruitment is taking place only from Punjab. Rahman was of the view that people of Fata should initiate a peace campaign demanding equal constitutional rights under proposed new social contract being voiced by some mainstream political parties. Parliamentarians, representatives from civil society organisations, academia, and political parties rejected state-imposed development in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and urged power players that without restoring peace as a first priority, development dream can not become true. Censuring Islamabad policy to rule Fata then govern, they also demanded basic human and constitutional rights, enforcement of Political Parties Act and equal status to tribal people as given to rest of the populace of the country. "Unless Islamabad discontinues same British colonial policy to rule Fata, Fana and Azad Kashmir, the change is not possible, while current political strategy in Fata is proved to be an ad hoc arrangement," they observed. Opposing implementation of development plans in Fata by a single donor agency and selective Islamabad-based NGOs, Fata representatives were unanimous in demanding that local organisations should be involved in the process in order to ensure positive socio-economic indicators in the region. MNA Shaukatullah was of the view that Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) is not a sacred document to touch. "Objective could not be achieved until restoring peace in the region as priority, while Fata should be governed likewise rest of the provinces in the country," he said. Earlier, criticising US policy for South Asia, Aisha Gullala of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was of the view that the US is responsible for creating upheaval in the area and it is the duty of the western powers to rectify it without any further delay. She opposed complete repealing of the FCR and suggested selective repeal and amendments in the concerned laws.

Noor Muhammad of Khyber Agency was of the view that option to make Fata as separate province or merge it with NWFP should be left with the people of the region. "We will decide about the option but before that enforcing Political Parties Act and establishment of regular judiciary in the area is a prerequisite," he added. Mairaj Khan Afridi said that government should resolve priority issue of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) on an urgent basis otherwise they would be forced to settle in rest of the areas of country.