The Senate on Friday passed 'the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court (Extension of Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill, 2018,' which was sent to the President for making into law after Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani signed it as his first bill at the office.
Two coalition government partners - Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) - opposed the bill by staging a walkout after registering their protest in the House.
After sailing through the Senate, the bill which has already been passed by the National Assembly, was signed by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani as his first bill to sign since he assumed the office on March 12, 2018 and was consequently sent to the President for signing into law.
The bill was moved by Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lieutenant General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd). In its statement of objects and reasons, the bill says: "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 Committee of the Whole Senate, earlier in the day, deliberated on the bill and consequently approved it. The government opposed amendments proposed by the opposition with a view to make it an Act without any delay. Talking the floor after the passage of the bill from the House, Minister for SAFRON Abdul Qadir Baloch regretted that people of Fata had been denied to avail equal rights. "All the rulers, including me, are indebted to the people of Fata, as no efforts were made in the past to give rights to tribesmen." He also assured the House that the government is serious in its commitment to ensure merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He criticized Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), currently governing the legal system in Fata, adding that it needs to come to an end.
Leader of the Opposition Sherry Rehman congratulated the House, saying that her party supported the bill for the larger interest of the people of Fata despite various flaws that could be rectified. Sherry said that it would be inappropriate to accuse the political parties of getting "signals," adding the political forces have a long history of democratic struggles.
She said that the people of Fata have been subjected to injustice for the last 70 years and the one step forward to address their reservations should be welcomed instead of showing resistance. The chairman Senate also dismissed that he or the House is under pressure to pass the bill, saying: "There is no pressure from anywhere...the Parliament will continue to do its work." Strongly reacting to the bill, JUI-F Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman alleged that the bill is being passed under pressure and after getting "signals from somewhere else."
In a brazen attack on Fata reforms package, Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman of the JUI-F, described the bill as a "doomsday" for the people of Fata, saying: "Doomsday will take place on Friday. The bill was passed on Friday which will haunt the people of Fata like doomsday in years to come." He also declared the bill as contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, saying: "By passing the bill, the Parliament has lost its prestige today".
Senators from other political parties including Azam Swati and Mushtaq Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), PML-N's Javed Abbasi and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Sirajul Haq of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and others supported the bill and congratulated the House and the people of Fata for this historic development. Meanwhile, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed assured the House that the government is neither mulling to roll back the 18th amendment nor any change is being made to it.
Responding to a calling attention notice by PPP's Raza Rabbani and Sassui Palijo about the Cabinet Division letter bearing subject "Transfer back of Institutions/functions," Aftab said there were some adjustments at federal level and the letter pertained to them. He said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) was handed over to Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division, which was earlier under Cabinet Division. Similarly, National College of Arts (NCA) was transferred to Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
He said the 18th amendment was passed unanimously by both the Houses of the Parliament and all political parties played their due role, adding that the amendment was passed after thorough discussion and the government does not intend to bring any amendment to it. On a calling attention notice moved by Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, the House also constituted a special committee to look into the matter of water shortage in Sindh due to non-implementation of the Water Accord of 1991.