Uproar in NA as govt pulls FATA reforms off agenda

Some lawmakers tear copies of agenda, shouting ‘Go FCR, go’

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly plunged into chaos on Monday after the government pulled the Fata reforms package off the agenda of the lower house of parliament, leading to the adjournment of the crucial sitting of the assembly.

The entire opposition, including an MNA of the treasury benches from Fata, protested against the move.

The government was supposed to table the bill for discussion on extending the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court’s jurisdiction over the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata). The government cited unspecified technical reasons for removing it from the day’s agenda.

A PML-N lawmaker, Shahabuddin Khan, raised the issue in this regard soon after the Question-Hour, saying that the agenda had been changed.



“Entire agenda has been changed,” he shouted at the top of his voice when he was denied microphone.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said: “I need to review the matter so the bill was withdrawn. It would be tabled in the next two or three days,” he said.

However, his explanation failed to calm the house.

Another lawmaker from Fata Shah Ji Gul Afridi maintained that the government’s move was cruel and unjust and said that he wished the government had not done so.

All opposition lawmakers stood up in unison and some of them rushed to Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi’s seat and tore copies of the agenda.

The chair tried to restore order in the house without any success. The protesting lawmakers were shouting: ‘Go FCR, Go.’

Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said that lawmakers were acting naturally.

“The issue of Fata (reforms) dates back to when the government came into power. Committees were formed on Fata reforms and the bill was also laid (before lawmakers for discussion). I had then pointed out that nobody should even think that such a bill could be passed.”



“I had assured Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch that I would support the bill. I cannot understand why the bill was removed from the agenda,” he said.

Shah said it seemed that the government was not serious about taking up this matter.

“Everybody’s feelings got hurt today. I request the minister (Safron) to explain what led to the bill’s withdrawal. Most members of the treasury benches do support this bill,” he stated.

The deputy speaker assured the house that the government was serious in taking up this matter. Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch also assured the house that the bill would soon be presented.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi of PTI said: “Do you realise that you’re creating a political situation. Do you want to create (political) chaos just to appease one or two persons? Do you want people to take to the streets?” he stated.

Mehmood Khan Achackzai of PkMAP and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been railing against the proposed amendments in Fata reforms.



Syed Khursheed Shah urged the government to explain the situation otherwise the opposition would stage a walkout.

“We are staging a walkout today and will also do so tomorrow and the day after,” he stated.

After the walkout, a PTI lawmaker pointed out the quorum deficiency which led to the adjournment of the sitting.