NA passes bill to extend apex court, High Court jurisdiction to FATA

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly here on Friday passed the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill 2017 after clause by clause reading.

The bill was tabled by the Minister for Law and Justice Mehmood Bashir Virk which was passed by the House.

Statement of Objects and Reasons of this bill says" In order to bring the people of FATA into the mainstream in according with their wishes and aspiration, it is necessary that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should extended to such areas for safeguarding their rights and providing them proper administration of justice in accordance with the constitution".

Minister for SAFRON Adbul Qadir Baloch said that credit goes to PML-N government for passing this bill as per aspirations of people from FATA. He said that this bill will pave way for speedy justice to people as no other party during the last 70 years considered about it.

Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said that passage of this bill is a historic moment and a step forward to bring FATA into mainstream.