Senate approves bill extending SC, PHC jurisdiction to tribal agencies

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Upper house of Pakistan passed the bill on Friday, extending the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court to the tribal agencies of Pakistan.

The tribesmen were demanding the extension of the superior courts’ jurisdiction to the tribal belt at par with the rest of the country.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, walked out of the session in protest as the bill, part of the supplementary agenda of the Upper House of Parliament’s session today.

Earlier, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani headed the session comprising the entire house as a committee where Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch gave a briefing on FATA reforms to the senators.

On January 12, the National Assembly had approved with a majority the same bill.

Newly-appointed law minister Mahmood Virk had presented the bill.

Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah had said this is a historic day, as the tribesmen have rendered immense sacrifices.

The lawmakers from FATA have been demanding the merger of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The KP Assembly had adopted a resolution on December 14, 2016 in favor of merging FATA with KP with the aim of rehabilitating and reconstructing the infrastructure including roads, communications, power lines, water supply, education and health facilities.