NA passes bill seeking FATA's merger with Khyber Paktunkhwa

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday passed   an amendment bill seeking merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Paktunkhwa.

The bill was  approved by two third majority as 229 members  favored  it while 29 lawmakers chose to oppose.

The 31st amendment bill was tabled by law minister Bashir Virk during the National Assembly session which was also attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan.

Government allies Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan Achakzai were not present in the house as their parties continued their opposition to the bill.

Imran Khan's speech

Addressing the house, Imran Khan said the lawmakers that  implementation of  Pakistan's laws would be  challenging  task. 

He called for  formation of a committee to resolve the issues that would emerge during the course of  mainstreaming of FATA.

Khan cited example from the past  in which Swat and some other areas  were made part of Pakistan .

He said  problems would emerge  in  the process of mainstreaming of FATA due to lack of infrastructure .

The PTI chairman said the parties that were demanding to make  Federallly Administered Tribal Areas a separate province  should understand that it was not feasible .

Lawmakers from treasury benches started interrupting  Imran Khan as he  discussed his reasons for the 2014 sit-in.

PM Khaqan Abbasi

The prime minister deplored that there was no need to bring the issue of  sit-in    during the session.

Abbasi said passing of the bill was beginning of a process . "We have to  gain trust of people of FATA," said he.

He said the house today has proved that there could be  consensus on the issues of national interest.

The prime minister said  the election would be held within 60 days after his government  completes its term.

He said Pakistan could not afford any delay in the  elections.

FATA Reforms

Under the FATA reforms bill, the number of National Assembly seats (12) and Senate seats (8) will remain unchanged while elections for the Provincial Assembly seats allocated for FATA would be held next year.

According to the bill, the powers that president and the governor had in FATA would no longer be effective while it would also abolish the FCR.

FATA would also acquire additional Rs100 billion beside Rs24 billion under the National Finance Commission.

FATA would also get a special fund of Rs1000 billion.

The jurisdiction of Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court would be extended to FATA.

The areas would also be granted exemption from tax for five years.