Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has directed that Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) reform bill must be passed before the end of its term on 31 May. Abbasi issued these directives during a PML-N parliamentary party meeting that he chaired at Parliament House on Wednesday.
The Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2017, aimed at introducing Reforms in Fata, was scheduled to be taken up by Law and Justice committee on Wednesday; however, the bill was deferred till May 22 as the committee meeting was overshadowed by debate on whether chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal (Retd) should be summoned or not as he had sought time for his appearance before the committee.
Talking to Business Recorder after the meeting, Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf, the chairman of the law and justice committee, said that the Fata reform bill would now be taken up by the committee on May 22 (Tuesday) for final approval.
After approval of the bill by the committee, he said that it would be sent to National Assembly where it would require a two-third majority for its passage.
In its statement of object and reasons, the Constitution (Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2017, stated: "The Federal Cabinet in its decision on 2nd March, 2017 in principle approved the integration of FATA with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. FATA being a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after such integration, will require its representation in the Provincial Assembly of the province".
"Furthermore, post integration scenario will see a substantial reduction in the Senate seats for FATA, which will be duly and adequately compensated through the creation of seats for FATA in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa according to their population. Creation of such seats is also of paramount importance for the fact that, if delayed, it will not only hamper the integration or the mainstreaming of FATA but also neglect a favorable opportunity, which might become a distant possibility before the next general elections in 2023", it added.
MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi from FATA Khyber Agency claimed that the parliamentary leaders of all political parties, during a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on May 7, agreed to extend support to the passage of the bill.
To a question, he said that all political parties will ensure presence of their members in the House as committed by the parliamentary parties' leaders on 7 May.
With reference to the opposition by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan Achakzai of PkMAP, he said that the duo are known for changing loyalties to suit the evolving situation, adding, "we are sure that PML-N government will not lose the opportunity of taking credit for bringing FATA into the mainstream."
"We have been categorically told by the Prime Minister that the Reform package would be implemented even at the cost of losing allies," said another MNA Sajid Hussain Turi from FATA, Kurram Agency.
He said that both Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan Achakzai did whatever they could to delay the passage of the reform package, but now they are no longer relevant as the government and other political parties have the numbers in parliament to pass the bill without any hindrance.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which has been supporting FATA merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has convened a meeting of the party's parliamentary committee on Thursday to deliberate on the issue.
A statement issued by the PTI media office stated that the party chairman Imran Khan would chair an important meeting though the party had already prioritized the merger of FATA with KP.
The MNAs and senators of PTI will participate in the meeting. The party chief will also deliberate upon the proposed 30th amendment bill, as it wants the reforms to be implemented to ensure that the tribals are finally rid of the FCR black law.
On April 17, 2018, President Mamnoon Hussain signed into law the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill, 2018 following the passage of the bill by the two houses of parliament despite opposition from JUI-F and PkMAP.
The merger of FATA with KP has been a longstanding demand of the tribal people who want to be rid of FCR and for regular laws to be extended to their area because of misuse by the local political administration of FCR.
PML-N sources told Business Recorder that efforts are still underway to address reservations of Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUI-F and Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
"We are hopeful the party leadership will address the concerns of JUL-F and PkMAP but the bill will be passed as the PML-N does not want the next government of whatever party to take credit for the passage of FATA reforms bill, which is a longstanding demand of the people of tribal areas for alleviating their sufferings and bringing them into the mainstream," said a senior PML-N leader.
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