As all the opposition parties also supported the Constitutional Amendment bill, the JUI-F, an ally of the government, strongly oppose the move with Maulana Fazalur Rehman warning rulers to refrain from action which could raise objections from the neighbouring countries and deteriorate relations with them.
Following introduction of bills, the house witnessed exchange of harsh words between Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Shah Jee Gul Afridi who was supporting the legislation. The JUI-F chief said as per an agreement reached between then British India and Afghanistan signed in 1893, the present Fata area was declared as buffer zone between the two sides. "I consider Pak-Afghan border as an international border but do you want to create issue of Durand Line," Maulana Fazalur Rehman said.
He said if any decision is taken while ignoring the 1893 agreement, it would draw any reaction from the neighbouring country and there would be increase in difficulties of Pakistan. "We are already facing issue of Line of Control (LoC) with both Pakistan and India making claims on Kashmir and now we will reopen issue of Duran by merging Fata with KP province," he said saying emotional steps should not be taken.
He maintained that his party was not against reforms in Fata but it would strongly oppose its merger with KP province. "It is not bill which was agreed with us," he said. Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that there is a rift in the rinks of the government. He said that his party supports the bills but the government does not wants to pass the bills but only wants to support members belonging to FATA to get their support in forthcoming Budget-2017-18.
The Constitutional (Thirtieth) Amendment bill provides for amendment in Article 106 of the Constitution envisaging increase KP assembly seats from 124 to 147 which include 18 general seats, four seats for women and one seat for non Muslim in respect of Fata.
"Creation of such seats is also of paramount importance for the fact that if delayed, it will not hamper the integration or the mainstreaming of Fata but also neglect a favourable opportunity which might become a distant opportunity before the next general elections, 2023," the statement of objectives and reasons of the bill said.
The Rewaj Act, 2017 in its essence, provides for the extension of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court which in collaboration with an alternate system of dispute resolution in the four of a Jirga system for provision of a speedy justice system to the people of the area.
Responding to concerns expressed by the JUI-F chief, the Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (retd) said the legislation introduced in the House was not meant for integration of Fata with KP rather those were part of reforms in Fata doing away black law like FCR. He said in order to protect rights of people of Fata, the legislation would provide for right of appeal with the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court against decisions of Jirga.
He said the Government plans to spend Rs 110 billion annually as a part of 10-year Fata reforms programme. Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that house has thoroughly debated the report of Parliamentary Committee on Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Reforms thoroughly and the bills should be refereed to concerned committees for further deliberation. He said that those who have concerns on the bills should come to the committee meetings.
He said that it is a defining movement for people of Fata as now they are being given their rights through legislation after a long-wait of 125 years. "We fully support the bills because we want to merge FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he said. Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that his party is against Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) and the people of FATA also want to get rid of it. He said that all the parties are united to bring reforms in tribal areas.
He said that Maulana Fazalur Rehman is an ally of ruling PML-N but his views are different. He said that there is a lack of confidence between government and Maulana Fazal. He said that that PML-N government is not clear on the issue of FATA reforms, and there is a rift in the ranks of the government.
"The government should withdraw the bills or Mualana should quit the government," he said. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there was consensus among all the opposition parties on the bill but views of Maulana Fazalur have shown rifts in ranks of the Government. " Either the Government should withdraw the bills or Maulana should leave the Government," he said.
Alhaj Shah Jee Gul Afridi from FATA said that we are trying to change the bad system of governance in FATA and want to give people their right for which they have been struggling since long. He said that Fata Reforms means 'completion of Pakistan', adding the constitution of Pakistan should be extended in FATA. He said that those who have reservations over the bills should raise their concerns in the committee.
Federal Minister for Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said there are no differences with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the bills which the government is introducing is aimed at abolishing the black law of FCR besides giving the people of Fata right of appeal in Peshawar High Court and Supreme Court.
He said that convening jirga and getting the point of view of people is right of President of Pakistan, adding the jirga convened by Maulana Fazl was the initiative of his own party. He said that process of development in Fata is in full swing, and in this regard, Rs 110 billion will be earmarked per annum. He said that there is a no to improve the health, education, and local facilities in tribal areas.
Captain Mohammad Safdar (retd) of PML-N, Sahabzada Tariqullah of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Shahabuddin Khan from FATA and others also supported the bill and merger of FATA into KP. The house passed unanimous resolution condemning the Mastung suicide attack in which Deputy Chairman Senate Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was also injured.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017