ISLAMABAD: A session of the parliamentary leaders under Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was held on Wednesday, where the leaders finally agreed upon the amendment to the Constitution for the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), sources said.
The session was attended by Barrister Zafarullah, Senate Opposition leader Sherry Rehman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Aftab Sherpao, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP).
According to sources, earlier the government allies had a difference of opinion over the issue of Fata reforms.
The coalition partners demanded that their 12 seats should be allotted in the National Assembly, sources said.
The coalition members demanded that when the Internally Displaced People returned to their homes, new census should be held.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party members boycotted the session.
The amendment bill for the merger is expected to be presented to the National Assembly on Thursday (today).
On Tuesday, the amendment was approved by the federal cabinet in a session presided over by the prime minister.
The seats for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will increase to 147 from the current 126 after its merger with fata, according to the proposed 30th Amendment of the Constitution.
The general seats of the provincial assembly will increase from 99 to 117, the bills states. Moreover, the seats for women will be increased from 22 to 26, while religious minorities’ seats from three to four.
The KP Assembly had adopted a resolution on December 14, 2016, in favour of merging Fata with KP with the aim of rehabilitating and reconstructing the infrastructure including roads, communications, power lines, water supply, education and health facilities.
In a meeting on December 26, 2017, the federal cabinet approved the formation of a high-level national implementation committee for Fata reforms.
Kasuri urged authorities of Pakistan and China to pull their resources to defeat forces seeking to disrupt the...
IHC said that several people had not returned the cipher copies they had, and asked if it meant it was right for the...
Gilani gave floor to Leader of Opposition Syed Shibli Faraz, who insisted that with unity they could take country...
Match witnessed intense action and dramatic twists, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final ball
Apex court bench was reconstituted after Justice Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the case earlier this month
ECP issued a notification in this connection pursuant to orders passed by LHC