Senate passes KP-FATA merger bill

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday passed  FATA reforms bill seeking merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)  with Khyber Paktunkhwa, a day after it sailed through the National Assembly  with two-third majority.According to Geo News, 71 lawmakers  voted in favor of the bill  while five  opposed the constitutional amendment .Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani  presided over the session during which Law Minister Mehmood Bashir Virk presented the bill.Government allies Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) continued to oppose the bill in the upper house of the parliament too.According to Geo News, PTI chairman Imran Khan  had asked his party lawmakers to ensure their presence in the Senate to help pass the historic amendment.The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday passed the 31st Amendment in the Constitution with two-thirds majority for merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (Pata) with the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) province.The Constitution (Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2018 which required 228 votes for passage sailed through with 229 votes while one vote was cast at the time of division of votes. Hence, one vote defined the majority decision in this case. The bill envisages an end to special powers of the President, governor and FCR.

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