- Khursheed Shah says PPP ready to reach out to JUI-F to discuss the bill
ISLAMABAD: Taking a strong exception to the government’s dilly-dallying to present the much-awaited FATA reforms bill, the Opposition on Tuesday staged a walkout from the National Assembly.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah took the government to task for dragging its feet to introduce the legislation for the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
After the opposition members boycotted the proceedings of parliament, the session was adjourned till Tuesday due to lack of quorum.
Speaking on the floor of the assembly, Shah said the government has not taken the opposition in the loop over the withdrawal of the bill from the session’s agenda. If the bill was held back owing to technical issues, the government should have apprised the opposition of it, he lamented.
Saddened by the government’s attitude, the opposition leader said the government is undermining parliament. “We want restoration of its respect and sanctity and will stage walkout for the purpose,” he said.
Federal Minister Sheikh Aftab Ahmed tried to pacify the opposition, saying Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had already discussed the FATA reforms bill at length and the government desired to present the bill in parliament after developing consensus among all the parties.
The premier is going to Turkey on a visit and will return on Thursday, he said, adding that after his return, he will hold discussions with all stakeholders to amicably resolve the matter. The opposition should wait until Friday, he advised.
If the premier will leave for Turkey in the evening he should have attended the session, the opposition leader said.
The issues would get complicated if the government will run away from them instead of finding a solution, he said.
Speaking to the media following the walkout, Shah said, “It has been 70 years; this is enough. We have been unable to grant basic rights to the people of FATA.”
“The government introduced FATA reforms bill without consulting with the opposition,” rued the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader. “They [government] have not taken the issue seriously since the beginning.”
He said he was ready to reach out to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has vehemently opposed the merger of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties formed a parliamentary committee to hold talks with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz over the issue of FATA reforms bill.
The committee was formed during a meeting between Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah and leaders of other opposition parties.
The committee comprises Aijaz Jakhrani, Farhatullah Babar, Sirajul Haq, Sahibzada Tariqullah, Mian Attique, Sheikh Salahuddin and Haji Shah Gull Afridi. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will nominate two members [for the committee] after consultation with Imran Khan.
