ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Opposition parties on Friday boycotted National Assembly proceedings for sixth consecutive days against the withdrawal of the bill pertaining to reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from agenda of the Lower House.
“Every day we are being given lollypop by the government that FATA Reform Bill will be included in the agenda. We were asked about parliamentary leaders meeting with the Prime Minister and inclusion of the bill in the agenda after it. However, it was also not included in the today agenda,” said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader Syed Naveed Qamar while speaking on a point of order on Friday.
The FATA Parliamentary Leader Shah Jee Gul Afridi said that as per the agreement, we were leaving the House and if the government was not serious about FATA Reforms bill then they would resign.
The Chief of Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that every day we were asked about the inclusion of the bill in agenda but despite assurance not yet brought on the agenda.
Sheikh Rashid said that the government itself introduced the FATA Reforms bill, adding that the ruling party should take credit of it.
“We are going to boycott the proceedings of the House as per unanimous decision of the joint opposition,” he added.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Sheikh Salahuddin said that FATA issue should be resolved as per the wishes of the people of the area.
Sheikh Salahuddin said that Karachi package had been announced but it was not implemented till date.
Sher Akbar Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) said that “FATA is the part of the Pakistan and colonial black law of FCR should be abolished”
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s (JUI-F) Muhammad Jamal-ud-Din said that “People of FATA should be taken into confidence as about 80 percent people wanted to be part of Pakistan.”
