FATA stands merged with the KPK though one wonders how is the government going to enforce its writ on the long strip of the Durand Line from Bajuar to South Waziristan through police? Obviously, it would have to rely on the Frontier Corp to a great extent for the purpose. It goes without saying that the FATA has a very difficult inhospitable geographical terrain, unique of its kind in the world and that was the precise reason why after a lot of brainstorming, the erstwhile Britishers had evolved the concept of collective tribal territorial responsibility for its day to day governance. It is not yet clear what is going to be the fate and future of thousands of tribal elders billed as Maliks and lungi holders who have been drawing annual Maliki and lungi allowances out of the federal government’ s kitty? The Maliki allowance is hereditary in essence and does not end with the death of its recipient . It is inherited by his elder son. If this amount is to be discontinued now after this merger it might create a lot of unrest among thousands of Maliks and lungi holders of FATA, most of whom are fairly influential in their respective tribes . One can witness sign of unrest among them already on this score. Apprehension is that if they were deprived of this monetary assistance, our enemies across the Durand Line might exploit the annoyance of these tribal elders on this score. The government must spell out whether it has done away with the age-old concept of tribal collective territorial responsibility operative in the FATA for many light years and has it thought about an alternative effective mechanism to tackle with the law and order requirements of the border area?
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