Opposition parties ‘boycott enters into sixth consecutive days

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties on Friday boycotted National Assembly proceedings for sixth consecutive days against the withdrawal of the bill pertaining to reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from agenda of the house.

PPP Parliamentary Leader Syed Naveed Qamar speaking on a point of order said," Every day we are being given lollypop by the government that FATA Reform Bill will be included in the agenda. We were asked about parliamentary leaders meeting with the Prime Minister and inclusion of the bill in the agenda after it. However, it was also not included in the today agenda."

Shah Jee Gul Afradi said that as per agreement, we were leaving the House and if the government was not serious about FATA Reform Bill then they would resign. Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, every day we were asked about the inclusion of the bill in agenda but despite assurance not yet brought on the agenda.

He said that the government itself introduced the FATA Reform Bill adding that the ruling party should take credit of it. “We are going to boycott the proceedings of the House as per unanimous decision of the joint opposition,” he added.

Sheikh Salahuddin of MQM said that FATA issue should be resolved as per the wishes of the people of the area.

Karachi package had been announced but it was not implemented till date, he added.

Sher Akbar Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami said “FATA is the part of the Pakistan and colonial black law of FCR should be abolished”.

Muhammad Jamal ud Din said “People of FATA should be taken into confidence as about 80 percent people wanted to be part of Pakistan.”