Fata reforms bill: Opposition stages walkout from NA for fourth day

ISLAMABAD: The opposition on Friday staged a walkout from the National Assembly for the fourth consecutive day over the government’s failure to introduce the bill on reforms in Fata in the lower house.

The National Assembly, which began its session with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the chair on Friday, was adjourned due to lack of quorum till Monday evening after the members belonging to the opposition parties staged walkout from the house to record their protest against the government for not tabling Fata reform bill.

The opposition parties have announced to boycott the proceedings of the house until the bill is not tabled.

Earlier, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed had bitterly criticized the government’s foot-dragging to move the bill on Fata reforms in the house.

It was highly unbecoming of the PML-N government to hold back the bill at the behest of its allies – JUI chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, he said.

He said it is high time the members from tribal regions should resign from the membership of the assembly in protest against the government’s non-serious attitude towards the reforms.

Naveed Qamar of the PPP said the government’s withdrawal of the bill from the session’s agenda was a contempt of the House.

Qamar said it was the decision of the joint opposition to boycott proceedings of the assembly until the Fata reforms bill is not tabled.

A federal minister, on the other hand, said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will convene a meeting of parliamentary leaders of political parties to develop consensus over the Fata reforms, after which the bill will be tabled in the house.