ISLAMABAD: There are apparently no chances of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) backing the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) “historical movement” for the implementation of the FATA reforms package, despite having a common viewpoint about the FATA merger issue, reports a local English daily.
Both the PPP and the PML-N protested at the last session of the National Assembly through their boycotts when the government withdrew a bill seeking the extension of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The PTI, however, now plans to take to the streets to protest the issue, whereas the PPP plans to keep it within the parliament. The PPP Secretary-General and Spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar said that the PPP will continue demanding the implementation of Fata reforms and the merger of the tribal areas with KP, but through peaceful means. He further stated that the PPP will support all decisions taken by the FATA MPs.
The PTI announced last week to launch a protest movement for Fata’s merger with KP. Earlier this month, the PTI chairman had also said that the PTI would launch a protest movement if the government remained unable to solve this issue.
On December 14, 2016, the KP Assembly had adopted a resolution proposing a FATA, KP merger that would help rehabilitate and reconstruct the infrastructure including roads, communications, power lines, water supply, education and health facilities.
In March this year, the federal cabinet approved measures for the proposed FATA-KP merger and a 10-year reforms package for the region.
In May a constitution amendment bill drafted in the light of the recommendations of the Fata reforms committee was presented before the National Assembly. The government did not move the bill seeking the extension of the jurisdiction of the Peshawar High Court and the Supreme Court to Fata.
