Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that parliamentarians from Fata would be taken into confidence on the extension of Political Parties Act to the tribal areas and their concerns on the Presidential Ordinance would be addressed.
Responding to a point of order of Munir Khan Orakzai, parliamentary leader of Fata members, about Presidential Ordinance for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata), Gilani assured the National Assembly that suggestions of the Fata parliamentarians would be accommodated and the Ordinance would be amended accordingly.
The Prime Minister said that the government was considering extension of Political Parties Act to Fata for which it intended to take into confidence the leaders, elders as well as the people of the tribal areas. Gilani invited the Fata parliamentarians for a discussion on the Ordinance saying that he was always available for meeting with them. The Prime Minister eulogised what he called an important role the people of the tribal areas had played for the independence and defence of the country.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Munir Orakzai complained that rules were being made regarding Fata without their consent and taking them into confidence. He said that being coalition partners, members of Fata had serious and strong reservations about these decisions.
He said the Fata members wanted the Prime Minister to take them into confidence. He also threatened to stage a walkout from NA; however, on the request of the Prime Minister and assurance that their suggestions would be incorporated in the law, they withdrew their decision.