NA likely to pave way for additional FATA seats

Govt, opposition agree on bill seeking to establish more NA, K-P assembly constituencies in tribal districts

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has said the National Assembly is going to unanimously pass a constitutional amendment bill on Monday to increase the number of seats in the NA and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly for former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

“The bill will be passed on demand of the elected representatives and people of the former tribal areas so that they do not have a sense of deprivation,” Khattak said on Friday while taking part in the debate after introduction of the bill on the floor of the lower house of the parliament.

The debate on the bill was formally opened by MNA Mohsin Dawar who had introduced the bill seeking amendment in Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution.



He said he had suggested in the bill to retain 12 seats of the National Assembly which were reduced to six after merger of Fata with the K-P and to increase general seats for the K-P Assembly from 16 to 24.

Dawar said the Standing Committee on Law and Justice had approved the bill with amendments and proposed to increase the K-P Assembly general seats from 16 to 20 and the National Assembly seats from six to nine. However, seats would be more than decided in the committee.

Khattak said people of Fata areas always express their affiliation with Pakistan, adding that it is satisfying that draconian Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) which was used to oppress people, was abolished.

He said Fata is rich with natural and mineral resources and its merger would bring prosperity and development and improve living standard of the people. During the British era, Fata was a buffer zone between Pakistan and Afghanistan and people of the area protected borders of the country.

The minister said the proposal to give three per cent share of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award to erstwhile Fata should be supported. The tribal areas would get funds of Rs1,000 billion in ten years after allocation of share through NFC.



He said the provincial government is working to build institutions in the seven districts of Fata areas. “Schools, colleges, universities and water and electricity supply schemes would be undertaken and job opportunities would be created in the long neglected areas,” Khattak said.

He said local bodies system would be introduced in former tribal areas in September-October this year and 30 per cent of funds out of Rs100 billion every year would be spent through the local elected representatives.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif said the tribal areas went through great difficulties in the last four decades and were ravaged by war, terrorism and chaos.

“In 1980s, Pakistan was affected due to proxy wars of super powers and wars across the border in Afghanistan. War and terrorism affected Karachi, Waziristan, Lahore, Swat, Gilgit and other areas throughout Pakistan,” he said.

He said two dictators – General Zia and General Musharraf – for the sake of prolonging their rule and for their personal interests dragged Pakistan into wars. He said after merger of erstwhile Fata into K-P, people of the area should be compensated for their sufferings and eviction from homes.

MNA Sajid Hussain Turi said the changes in the Constitution for merger of former Fata were approved by the last parliament. Due to conflict, the economy of tribal areas was destroyed and should be given three per cent share in the NFC award which amounts to of Rs100 billion every year.

MNA Mufti Shakoor thanked all the parties for supporting the bill for increase in the seats. He recalled that people of Fata areas were bathed in blood and had to bear difficult conditions as several operations including Rudd-ul-Fasaad and Zarb-e-Azb and combing operations were conducted there.

He pointed out that the areas urgently needed building of basic infrastructure of hospitals, schools, universities and roads. MNA Ali Wazir welcomed support of the parties for the bill and for doing away with the FCR .He said the new constitutional arrangement would remove peoples’ deprivation.

He demanded that elections should be held on seats in the K-P Assembly within six months. MNAs Jamaluddin, Sajid Mohmand and Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali said the new legislation would prove beneficial for the people of Fata areas.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Afridi said provinces should keep aside their reservations and endorse three per cent share for Fata areas in the NFC and show solidarity with tribesmen.

Ghous Baksh Mehr and Khalid Magsi also termed the amendment bill as a gesture of love for the people of Fata and urged the parliament to play its role in resolving all issues faced by the tribal people.

Earlier, Pervez Khattak termed the oppositions' behaviour as inappropriate said people in the opposition only make critical statements but are not ready to listen to others.

“If the opposition attacks the speaker, then we will be obliged to stop them and the house may then turn into a battlefield. You only make your address and escape. Have patience and to listen to others.”

The Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said the term 'our speaker' should be expunged as the speaker is representative of the entire house not just the government. Asad Qaiser said he is speaker of the whole house. The NA session was later adjourned till Monday 2pm.