KP-Fata merger: JUI-F may quit ruling coalition

As expected, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), a close ally of ruling PML-N, is set to quit the coalition this week; after its reservations over 30th constitutional amendment bill, were not addressed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi administration.
A senior leader of JUI-F told Business Recorder that it was of no use to support the government as it is not ready to listen to its allies on important matters such as Fata reforms. "We stood by the government through thick and thin, and now when PML-N terms is about to end, it gives no importance to its allies, leaving us with no option but to call it day," he added.
Strongly opposing the 30th Amendment Bill, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman has termed the reforms a global conspiracy. The JUI-F chief has claimed that the government had backed off from the promise it made with their party for not going ahead with the merger; not going ahead with Rewaj Act and not announcing the national and provincial assembly seats.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is all set to table the bill about the merger of Fata with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) despite stiff resistance by two of its major allies, JUI-F and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
In a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Saturday, the top civil and military leaders put their weight behind the merger and directed the relevant ministries to take steps in this regard. "[After] weighing all the pros and cons in detail, the committee endorsed that Fata shall be merged with K-P along with the introduction of the administrative and judicial institutional structures and laws of K-P," said a declaration issued after the NSC meeting. The committee also endorsed the provision of additional well-monitored development funds for the Fata region during the next ten years, with the stipulation that those funds would not be re-appropriated to any other area of KP.
It is very unlikely that the government will be able to garner support of 2/3 majority to pass a constitutional amendment from the National Assembly as opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is reluctant to vote on the bill unless Fata is merged with KP.