All parties' conference: Mainstream parties back Fata’s merger with K-P

Demand development package worth Rs500 billion, relief for earthquake victims

ISLAMABAD: Efforts of lawmakers from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to merge the tribal areas into the provincial administered tribal areas (PATA) of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa received a major boost on Monday when mainstream parties backed their proposal.

At a day-long all parties conference (APC), orchestrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Islamabad on Monday, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz accorded its support to the proposed 22nd amendment. Opposition parties including Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazal, Awami National Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement also backed the bill.

The proposed Fata Reforms Bill calls for granting of full citizenship rights to the tribal belt’s estimated seven million residents in addition to extending the jurisdiction of the superior judiciary to the region.

However, to push the bill through, Fata’s lawmakers require a two-thirds majority in the lower house. Monday’s vote of confidence by major political parties means that the chances of passing the bill are bright.

Terming the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) a draconian law, JI chief Sirajul Haq said that the proposed 22nd amendment reflects the will of Fata’s residents.

The APC was attended by PML-N’s Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, opposition leader in the national Assembly Khursheed Shah, PTI’s Iqbal Afridi, MQM’s Barrister Saif, ANP’s Bhusra Gohar and Aftab Sherpao.

According to a statement of the meeting, the APC demanded a development package worth Rs500 billion for the region to ensure an honourable return for Fata’s displaced residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2015.