NA passes bill to extend SC-PHC jurisdiction to Fata

The National Assembly on Friday passed a bill with majority to extend the jurisdiction of Supreme Court of Pakistan and Peshawar High Court to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). "The Supreme Court and High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Area) Bill, 2017" was tabled by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk.
Naeema Kishwar of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the bill and presented amendments which were rejected by the House. During the legislation, Naeema Kishwar also pointed out quorum to halt the process of legislation but the House was found in order after counting. All opposition parties including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and other small parties supported the government for passage of the bill. However JUI-F, an ally of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), strongly opposed the bill.
In the last session of the House, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai opposed the bill but at the time of legislation process, he was not present in the House.
According to the bill, "The Supreme Court of Pakistan shall have, in the relation to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the same jurisdiction as it has in relation to the province of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Peshawar High Court shall have, in relation to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the same jurisdiction as it has in relation to the province of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa."
According to the objects and reasons of the bill, in order to bring the people of FATA into the mainstream in accordance with their wishes and aspirations, it is necessary that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should be extended to such areas for safeguarding their rights and providing them proper administration of justice in accordance with the Constitution.
The Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said that it is a historic day in the parliamentary history as well as the first step to move forward. He said, "We would also await another step to merge FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa." He said that the government should bring another bill for merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in next session of the National Assembly.
He said that it is fundamental right which is being given to the people of tribal areas. The opposition would support the government if it performs well for the rights of the people.
While speaking on the bill, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said credit goes to the present government for abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) and extending the jurisdiction of superior courts to the tribal areas.
He said today all the political parties are united for the mainstreaming of tribal areas. He said the tribal areas will also be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an appropriate time as per the recommendations of the FATA Reforms Committee. He said that the President of Pakistan under Article 247 would play the role for merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from FATA, Alhaj Shah Jee Gul Afridi and Shahab Uddin, Sahibzada Tariqullah of JI and others also thanked and congratulated the government and all political parties on passage of the bill.
In the last session, despite of an agreement, the government failed to bring the FATA Reforms Bill in the National Assembly as it is opposed by its allied parties; JUI-F and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. The opposition parties continued their protest and staged a walkout from the House in the last session for not tabling the bill in the National Assembly.