FATA reforms bill: Opposition forms parliamentary committee to hold talks with govt
The committee was formed during Khurshid Shah's meeting with leaders of the opposition parties.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Opposition parties formed a parliamentary committee on Tuesday to hold talks with the PMLN-led government over the issue FATA reforms bill.
The committee was formed during a meeting between Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and leaders of the opposition parties.
The committee comprises Aijaz Jakhrani, Farhatullah Babar, Sirajul Haq, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Mian Attique, Sheikh Salahuddin and Haji Shah Gull Afridi while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will nominate two members after consultation with Imran Khan.
OPPOSITION STAGES WALK OUT
Earlier today, the opposition parties staged a walk out from the National Assembly on the second over the government’s reluctance to table FATA reforms bill.
FATA members, lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement announced a boycott of house proceedings until the legislation was introduced.
After finding out that the house lacked quorum, the speaker adjourned the session.
Speaking during the session, opposition leader Khursheed Shah said that FATA issue has to be resolved now as the matter is facing delay since 70 years. He blamed the government for not taking the issue seriously.
“First they brought the bill in hurry and then removed it from the agenda. The government should tell why it is doing this. It should have consulted the opposition before presenting the bill,” he said.
The PPP leader asserted that he will also discuss the matter with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman while playing his role according to party policy.
Government’s reluctance over FATA reforms bill also triggered ruckus in NA on Monday as as lawmakers from the opposition parties tore down copies of the day’s agenda and gathered in front of the speaker’s dais before staging a walkout, led by Khursheed Shah.
It is pertinent to mention here that the government announced on Friday on its own that the bill will be tabled in the Nation Assembly on Monday, however; it was remove from the agenda at the eleventh hour.
In May, the FATA reforms bill was suspended in the Lower House, and Khursheed Shah had strongly condemned the government while accusing it of halting the bill through their allies.
The Opposition Leader will join Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest after it reaches Islamabad on the invitation of the party chief Siraj-ul-Haq.
READ: Imran Khan warns of protests if FATA not merged into KP by Dec 11
PTI chief Imran Khan has also warned that his party will hold protests throughout the country FATA is not made part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
