Fata Voice News Agency
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday passed the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Court “Extension Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas” Bill, 2018.
The bill was tabled by the Minister for States and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch which was passed by the House.
Law Minister Mahmood Bashir Virk moved the bill “Extension Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas Bill, 2018” aimed at extending the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court to Fata.
Statement of Objects and Reasons of this bill says” In order to bring the people of FATA into the mainstream in accordance with their wishes and aspirations, it is necessary that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should be extended to such areas for safeguarding their rights and providing them proper administration of justice in accordance with the constitution”.
National Assembly has already passed the Bill.
JUI-F Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman walked out from the House and did not participate in voting.
Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman said the passage of the bill is extra-constitutional step. “The Bill has been passed without consulting FATA people. Parliament is losing prestige,” he said.
Expressing jubilation over the passage of the Bill, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman said more would be done for FATA. More Bills would follow to grant more rights to FATA, she added.
