Proposed legislation on FATA reforms: Parliamentary parties' leaders hold discussion

Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq on Monday chaired a meeting of parliamentary parties' leaders to discuss the proposed legislation on the FATA reforms. The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Dr Shireen Mazari, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao of Qaumai Wattan Party, Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghazi Gulab Jamal and Shahjee Gul Afridi from FATA, State Minister for SAFRON Ghalib Khan and others.
However, two allied parties opposed to merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai did not attend the meeting. The sources said that Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Legal Affairs Barrister Zafarullah was scheduled to brief the meeting on the proposed legislation, but he did not attend the meeting due to his engagements.
The sources said that it was decided that the meeting would again be held today (Tuesday) to get the briefing from the special assistant and it is expected the proposed bill will be presented before the National Assembly either on Wednesday or Thursday for passage.