Ex-Fata seats in NA, KP: NA may adopt Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 on May 13

The National Assembly will adopt 'The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019' on Monday (May 13) with two-thirds majority to give proper representation to the people of the erstwhile Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in National Assembly and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
According to sources, it is part of the Fata's merger process with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The National Assembly had already passed the 31st Amendment to the Constitution with two-thirds majority for merger of the Fata and the Provincially-Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 25, 2018. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) had opposed the amendment at that time.
However, at present, all the ruling and opposition political parties are on the same page to give proper representation to the people of erstwhile Fata in the National Assembly and provincial assembly.
According to the proposed amendment to the Article 51 of the Constitution, general seats in the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be increased from 45 to 51 and total seats of the province at NA would be increased from 55 to 61. According to the proposed amendment in Article 106 of the Constitution, the general seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be increased form 115 to 123 and women seats would be increased from 26 to 28 of the province. So the total seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be increased from 145 to 155.
Independent MNA Mohsin Dawar from North Waziristan presented "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019" in the House for discussion and passage. The government and opposition members on Friday discussed and unanimously supported "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019." While initiating debate on the Bill, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif said that his party welcomes this step. He said the whole House agreed to the Bill.
"The tribal areas have been suffering from anarchy for four decades and our beautiful cities have become safe havens for terrorists," he said. Former foreign minister Khawaja further said that Pakistan has no conflict with Russia. He said Pakistan's subjugation at the hands of a superpower is a sad chapter in the country's history. He said we compromise our independence for benefits of others. He said US has been defeated in Afghanistan and now looking to escape.
He said that special attention should be given to the erstwhile Fata until the peace is restored there. He said that drone attacks were conducted at marriages and funerals in these areas. The House is making history by passing the Bill. Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said that this step should have been taken 70 years ago.
He said that development work would begin in these areas. He said the provinces would be given 3 percent share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. He said that Rs 100 billion would be provided for development which would continue for next 10-years. Inhumane treatment was done under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) in the tribal areas, he said.
Khattak said that people of these areas have served as the security personnel as well. "I am very pleased that all the parties have agreed to the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and we will ensure education reforms and other developments in the region," he said. Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri said the constitutional amendment has been finalised after consultation with all the political parties in the Parliament.
"This is a major gift from the Parliament to the tribal people," he said. Minister of State for Frontier Regions and Division (Safron) Shehryar Khan Afridi said that under this constitutional amendment, seats of tribal districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have been enhanced to 24 and in the National Assembly to 12.