ISLAMABAD: The All Parties Conference (APC) convened over Fata reforms implementation, on Saturday demanded of the federal government to immediately convene the National Assembly session on Fata reforms and table the Fata Reforms Bill in before the budget session for approval.
The Fata Parliamentarians head Alhaj Shahji Gul Afridi had summoned the APC over the delay in the implementation of the proposed reforms, approved on March 2, suggesting tribal areas’ merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The APC was attended by MNA Nasir Afridi, MNA Sajid Turi, PPP Senator Farhat Ullah Babar, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, PTI MNA Murad Saeed, JI MNA Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, ANP MNA Ghulam Bilour, ANP Mian Iftikhar, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan, lawyer Latif Afridi and women rights activist Samreen Wazir.
Speaking at the APC Farhat Ullah Babar said that some elements are creating hurdles in the implementation of Fata reforms adding that if the government made sincere efforts the reforms could be successfully implemented.
Special Advisor to PM Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan on the occasion told the APC participants that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already directed the Law Ministry to prepare the Fata Reforms Bill for approval from National Assembly during the next session.
Later the multi-party conference in its declaration demanded of the federal government to immediately convene the National Assembly session on special agenda of Fata reforms. They demanded of the federal government and KP provincial government to make necessary preparations for administrative, financial and legal amendments. The APC also demanded local government elections in tribal areas before general elections. They also demanded equal representation for tribal areas in KP Assembly and National Assembly during the 2018 general elections.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Law Minister Zahid Hamid to place the Tribal Areas Rewaj Act 2017 and the consequential amendments in the forthcoming session of National Assembly for consideration.
According to a PM House statement, this will be a major step in fulfilling the government’s commitment with the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The statement said this historic development will usher in a new era of progress and prosperity, besides paving way for the mainstreaming of the tribal areas.
The Federal cabinet has already endorsed the recommendations.
