ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties on Thursday boycotted National Assembly proceedings for fifth day against the withdrawal of the bill pertaining to the reforms in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from the agenda of the house.
The members vowed to continue their boycott until the government tables the FATA Reforms Bill in the assembly.
On a point of order, Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said that black law i.e Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) had been imposed for the last 70 years.
“It was impossible for us to accept two different laws in one state,” he added.
He said that the government had pulled out the FATA Reform bill from agenda without taking opposition parties into confidence.
Shah said, “We will not accept British rule in FATA, we have 1973 constitution and it should be extended to FATA also.”
“About 95 percent FATA people are unanimous to be part of Pakistan and we want to give them constitutional rights,” he added.
PPPP Parliamentary Leader Naveed Qamar said, “No question hour, no business will be allowed to carry out in the assembly till the inclusion of FATA bill in the agenda”.
“It was unanimous decision of the opposition parties not to attend the proceeding of the house, so we are leaving the house,” he said soon after the Deputy Speaker announced question hour.
Speaking on an agriculture issue, he said it was unfortunate that government was not considering the problems being faced by the sugarcane growers and subsidy announced by the government had not been passed on to the farmers.
PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said, “This is my democratic right to oppose any issue in the parliament, FATA reform bill will create problems for the country”.
He said that FATA issue should be solved by taking the people of area into confidence and decision against desire of the people will not be acceptable.
MNA Sheikh Rashid said that the issue of FATA reform is very important and serious. “All the opposition parties are unanimous not to attend the proceedings till the inclusion of FATA Reform Bill in the agenda”.
MNA Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said recommendations of the FATA reform committee were very encouraging.
“Parliament is the supreme institution and all the issues being confronted by the country should be resolved here”, he added.
He asked the government to allocate provincial seats for FATA.
“Majority of the people in FATA, especially youngsters desire to be part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he stressed.
By-polls to be held on six NA and 12 PA constituencies in Punjab on April 21
President Zardari vows criminals involved in gruesome act will be apprehended and brought to justice
Mustafa Ramday withdraws nomination papers from technocrat seat while Musadik Malik, others take back nominations from...
Gen Munir says army won't leave any stone unturned for security of every foreigner, especially Chinese nationals
"It is members' right to be sworn in as they have already been notified," Justice Shakeel Ahmad says
CJP Isa among other judges deliberates on letter written by six judges of IHC to SJC