FATA bill adopted without alleviating locals' concerns: JUI-F

Dunya News

He was addressing a presser here in federal capital Islamabad today.

(Dunya News) – Opposing the historic merger of then Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Jamiat Ulema-e Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman that bill [31st constitutional amendment] had been passed without alleviating concerns of locals.

He was addressing a presser here in federal capital Islamabad today.

Read also: KP Assembly ratifies FATA bill amid protests

“No consultation was made with us pertaining to merger of [then] FATA with KP. Prime Minister (PM) had assured us that [then] FATA would not be merged into KP. He [read PM] had only informed us that jurisdiction of Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) and Peshawar High Court (PHC) would be extended”, Maulana told reporters.

“Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) has been quashed from tribal areas without implementing new laws. People are seeking reply from public representatives”, asserted Rehman while adding at the same time that he [read Rehman] had been talking about the ground realities [in tribal areas] time and again.

The 31st Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2018 for merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been passed by National Assembly on Thursday.

Read also: JUI-F workers clash with police outside KPK assembly

As many as 229 members voted in the favor of the bill while 11 opposed it. The bill was approved clause by clause.

With the passing of the bill, KPK laws will be immediately enforceable in FATA and it would also get Rs. 100 billion under NFC award.

Under the bill, the laws of Pakistan will be applicable in FATA. In addition, FATA will get Rs1 billion every year for 10 years which will exclusivley be for development in FATA. Also, FATA will now be a part of KPK.