Bill passed to increase seats of erstwhile FATA in NA, KPK assembly

ISLAMABAD, May 13 (APP):National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed 26th constitutional amendment bill increasing seats of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to 12 in National Assembly and to 24 in provincial assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and member of National Assembly Mohsin Dawar moved amendments in the articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution at the floor of the house, which were later passed with two thirds majority by members belonging to all parties first by rising from their seats and finally by roll call.
More than 280 members approved different clauses of the bill and during the roll call 288 came out in its support.
Prime Minister Imran Khan who was present in the house briefly spoke on the bill and took part in the voting process.
Mohsin Dawar giving his reasons in writing for moving the bill said that state was responsible to protect rights of all of its citizens and to give them true representation in all walks of life. He frurther said the current allocation of the general seats made on the basis of provisional results of population census 2017 did not include internally displaced persons in the population of erstwhile FATA. The enhancement in the seats will remain effective till the next census.
Minister Noorul Haq Qadri in his speech appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan for raising voice in the past for rights of people of FATA by taking up issues of NATO supplies to Afghanistan, drone attacks and military operations.
He said people of tribal areas faced immense difficulties and displacement and were still living as migrants in different areas of Pakistan.
The minister thanked the opposition parties for their across the board support for the legislation and expressed hope that consensus among parties would continue on other national issues as well.
Leader of Pakistan Muslim League(N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the law to merge former FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was passed by the last Parliament. He mentioned the contribution and support of Maulana Fazlur Reham, Sartaj Aziz and Nawaz Sharif for the passage of law for the merger of FATA. He said elections on enhanced seats for FATA should be held within six months.
MNA Jamiat Ulema Islam Maulana Wasay said despite reservations his party supported the increase in seats for people of FATA who were suffering from poverty and terrorism, adding ultimately his party wanted a separate province for tribal areas.
Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf reminded the house of the efforts of Zulfikar Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari for reforms in FATA and for ending Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR).
MNA Awami National Party Amir Haider Hoti assured of his party’s support to protection of rights of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
MNA Agha Hassan Baloch of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) said house should also consider increasing seats of Balochistan where many constituencies were spread over thousands of square kilometers.
Muutahida Qaumi Movement and other smaller parties backed the bill.
Speaker Asad Qaiser congratulated the assembly members and the nation on the passage of the constitutional amendment bill and afterwards prorogued the house for an indefinite period.