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Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
JUI-F jirga also rejects committee on ex-Fata
Listen to article A tribal jirga organized by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has expressed serious reservations about a committee formed to restore the traditional jirga system in the merged tribal districts, which were earlier part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) The jirga held in Peshawar on Sunday also declared that a decision taken with regard to the merged districts without proper public representation and consultation would be unacceptable. The jirga led by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman brought together tribal elders and leaders from the merged districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Senior leaders like Maulana Jamaluddin, Maulana Abdul Rasheed, Malik Nasrullah Khan, Malik Shaheen, Malik Khan Marjan, Mufti Baitullah, Malik Nadir Manan, Abdul Khaliq Pathan, MNA Mufti Misbahuddin, Malik Shireen, and Dr GG Jamal addressed the gathering and presented key recommendations. In a statement issued by the JUI-F, the jirga expressed concern about the rising incidents of terrorism and targeted killings in the former tribal districts, and demanded urgent and effective measures to ensure peace and protect lives and property in the region. The jirga also rejected the recently proposed Mines and Minerals Bill, terming it against the interests of the tribal population and the country at large. It emphasized the need to re-engage tribal leaders and Pashtun representatives to devise a comprehensive and inclusive strategy for the region's future. The participants reiterated that no imposed solution would be acceptable in the tribal belt without the voice and will of the people Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a special committee on the merged districts which on July 1 initiated deliberations on revival of the traditional jirga system in former Fata. These districts, earlier called agencies, were merged with the K-P in early 2018 through the 25th Constitutional Amendment. During the July 1 meeting, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam as the chairman of the committee stressed the need for an alternative justice system rooted in tribal customs but aligned with constitutional principles. The committee also decided to form a sub-committee to draft recommendations and agreed to hold its next session in the K-P's capital, Peshawar. The ANP and the PTI have already rejected the committee, which, they claim, does not represent the people of the merged districts.
Business Recorder
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Merged districts of erstwhile tribal areas of KP: PTI rejects revival of jirga system
ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday rejected a federal committee tasked with reviving the jirga system in the merged districts of the erstwhile tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terming it unconstitutional and calling for its immediate dissolution. Speaking at a press conference, acting PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan – flanked by senior leaders Shah Farman and party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram – described the panel, led by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam and constituted on June 25, as an unconstitutional intrusion into provincial jurisdiction. 'After the 25th Constitutional Amendment, full authority over the jirga system in the merged districts of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) lies with the provincial government,' Gohar said. 'There is no legal basis for this federal committee.' He added that PTI had not participated in any of the committee's meetings and the restoration of the tribal jirga system was never formally discussed. Calling the erstwhile FATA areas extremely sensitive, Gohar demanded that the federal panel be disbanded without delay. He noted PTI's strong electoral presence in the region, pointing out that five of the seven MNAs and 14 of the 17 MPAs from the erstwhile tribal areas belong to the party. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram accused the federal government of unnecessary interference and claimed it had withheld over Rs70 billion in funds allocated to the former FATA. He questioned the rationale behind establishing a new jirga mechanism when one already exists. Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman said the FATA merger in 2018 was carried out to bring development to the region, and legislation was enacted to empower elected representatives from FATA. He emphasized that funds and administrative responsibilities were to be handled by elected provincial representatives, not the federal government. He also stated that a review of the now-defunct Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) was under consideration, alongside efforts to align local governance with that of Pakistan's settled areas. He added that the merger had been completed through an agreement between the federal and provincial governments. 'The tribal people were, are, and will remain who they are… we cannot change their way of life,' he said. 'The privileges granted to FATA were meant to be enhanced, not reduced,' he maintained. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Granite Awarded First Phase of CMGC Contract in Alaska for Parks Highway Realignment
WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite (NYSE:GVA) has been awarded a Federally funded $54 million contract to build the first of two construction phases under a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT & PF). This phase of the project involves the realignment of the Parks Highway from milepost 319 to 322, aimed to reduce sharp corners and improve traffic safety. Major work activities include 2.5 million cubic yards of onsite earthwork, 25,000 tons of asphalt paving, and implementation of a full traffic diversion. The project leverages all facets of Granite's equipment fleet, including a portable crusher and hot plant. The estimated construction contract value for the remaining segment is approximately $35 million. 'By employing the CMGC approach, the project team was able to identify and design a 'best for project' plan that ensures the most efficient use of funding,' said Ryan Moren, Granite Vice President of Regional Operations. 'This project sets the standard for collaboration, teamwork and partnering through preconstruction, with DOT&PF, Michael Baker International (Designer), and Granite all actively contributing to an optimal design and successful contract award.' Construction began May 1, 2025, and is estimated to be completed by September 2027. About Granite Granite is America's Infrastructure Company™. Incorporated since 1922, Granite (NYSE:GVA) is one of the largest diversified construction and construction materials companies in the United States as well as a full-suite civil construction provider. Granite's Code of Conduct and strong Core Values guide the Company and its employees to uphold the highest ethical standards. Granite is an industry leader in safety and an award-winning firm in quality and sustainability. For more information, visit the Granite website, and connect with Granite on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
82 people face trespassing charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
Dozens were charged for unauthorized entry in New Mexico's new military zone along the southern border, officials said. A total of 82 people received Title 50 charges as of Thursday, May 1, for crossing into military defense property, a 170-square-mile strip along the base of New Mexico, also known as the Roosevelt Reservation, according to a news release by the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. The corridor was recently transferred from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense and is now being treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, the news release said. The land is subject to military patrols and surveillance, with "U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution." Title 50 charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, in addition to any other immigration-related offenses, the release noted. 'Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecuted—no exceptions,' U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said in the news release. The charges in New Mexico came as a second military zone created in the El Paso area, which will be part of the Fort Bliss Army base. The area stretches about 53 miles east to the border community of Fort Hancock. Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook. More: El Pasoan residents march to demand respect for border community's dignity and rights This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 82 people face charges for crossing into New Mexico military zone
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
82 people facing newly created criminal charge for entry along NM-Mexico border
This article was first published by Source New Mexico. Follow them for more at The United States Attorney in New Mexico announced Thursday that 82 people are facing brand new criminal charges aimed at cracking down on illegal crossings where Mexico shares a border with New Mexico. A recent land transfer from the Department of Interior to the Department of Defense effectively made the 170-mile stretch of United States-Mexico border in southwest New Mexico into a military base, authorizing federal troops to detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for criminal charges, according to a news release. Those who are arrested in the 60-foot buffer zone can face charges for 'unauthorized entry into the New Mexico National Defense Areas,' according to charging documents, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison. The names of the 82 individuals charged were not immediately available, though federal court records show that U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, who was named as the United States Attorney for New Mexico on April 18, personally signed 28 charging documents for named defendants on April 28. 'The Department of Justice will work hand in glove with the Department of Defense and Border Patrol to gain 100% operational control of New Mexico's 170-mile border with Mexico,' Ellison said in a news release. 'Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecuted—no exceptions.' United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks joined Ellison for a 'high-level visit' April 25. They touted the newly created criminal charge as a way to leverage 'expanded military and prosecutorial authority to deter unlawful border crossings,' according to the news release. Standing on the newly created National Defense Area in New Mexico on April 25, Hegseth warned that anyone caught there would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you try to come in illegally as a cartel, or you try to smuggle or traffic. You will be detained by a member the U.S. military, and you will be handed over to US Customs and Border Patrol, and then you will be prosecuted by the US DOJ, and then you will be charged to the maximum extent of the law,' Hegseth said, according to video he posted to social media. The buffer zone along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, Arizona and California is known as the 'Roosevelt Reservation' and excludes areas of private or tribal land. Now that it's under control of the Defense Department, it's treated as an extension of the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachaca in Cochise County, Arizona. Rebecca Sheff, an attorney with the ACLU of New Mexico, said in an April 22 news release statement that the newly created military buffer zone 'represents a dangerous erosion of the constitutional principle that the military should not be policing civilians.' She also said U.S. citizens who live near the border could be prosecuted under the newly created statutes. Patrick Lohmann has been a reporter since 2007, when he wrote stories for $15 apiece at a now-defunct tabloid in Gallup, his hometown. Since then, he's worked at UNM's Daily Lobo, the Albuquerque Journal and the Syracuse Post-Standard. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NM US Attorney charges 82 people for entry along NM-Mexico border
