Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday presented Tribal Areas Rewaj Bill 2017 in the National Assembly while JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and some tribal representatives opposed it.

Some lawmakers from FATA and the JUI-F chief targeted each other directly over the Bill and Fazlur Rehman warned that no one can pass the bill in current situation. However, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq allowed the bill and referred it to the committee concerned for deliberations. A majority of lawmakers, both from government and opposition, supported the bill. Fazl said the government was totally deviating from its promise, which was done with him over FATA Reforms or merging with KP and the bill would not be passed in current form. He claimed that the government was trying to change the status of an area which was implemented 125 years ago. He went on to say that the government was going to create more international problems by changing the territorial boundaries decided between the then British India and the Afghan government.

The Rewaj bill aims at bringing the tribal people into the national mainstream. Under the bill, proper judicial system would be established wherein the role of tribal jirga would be duly legalised.

The bill was in line with the recommendations furnished by FATA reforms committee formed to bring the tribal people into the mainstream. The committee had held a series of meetings in FATA and KP with various tribes, including their elders to reach consensus. However, Fazl rejected the bill and said that the bill was against the commitment made with the JUI-F. He said that the JUI-F would not compromise on the rights of FATA.

Reacting to the JUI-F chief’s statement, FATA MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi said some political leaders were making political point scoring.

Aftab Sherpao was of the view that it was a defining movement. He asked the speaker to lay the bill and refer it to the committee for deliberation because it was thoroughly discussed.

Supporting the bill, PTI lawmaker Shah Mehmood Qureshi said opposing the bill by the government ally revealed that the government and its ally (JUI-F) were not on the same page. He advised the JUI-F either support the government bill or resign from the government.

PTI lawmaker Dawar Khan Kundi said the FATA Reforms Committee was illegal because it was established by the order of prime minister, while only the president can issue order for it.

Fazl took his words back against some FATA legislators. He claimed that he had no question over FATA Reforms but wanted FATA people’s consent. He said the government deviated from the agreement in this regard.

Winding up the debate, SAFRON Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said the bill was totally within the agreement which the government discussed with the JUI-F. He said the government introduced the Rewaj Act 2017 to replace the draconian law FCR. The people of FATA wanted to get rid of injustice in the name of FCR.