July 19, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 18: The government on Friday decided to reduce the powers of political agents in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and bring tribesmen to the national mainstream.

A committee formed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the Frontier Crimes Regulation also recommended that a tribesman arrested on any charge should be presented before the political agent within

24 hours.

Law Minister Farooq Naek, who heads the committee, said the FCR needed to be amended because many of its clauses did not conform to norms of a civilised society.

The committee discussed various proposals about amending the law in force since 1901, Farhatullah Babar, who is a member of the committee, told Dawn.

He said the committee would meet again on July 24 in Peshawar. It would finalise amendments to the FCR in “four to six months”.

Rehmatullah Kakar, JUI-F’s senator and federal Minister for Housing and Works, attended the meeting and suggested some measures.

The exercise to amend the FCR is aimed at bringing tribal areas on a par with other developed areas of the country.