Senate passes bill extending jurisdiction of Supreme Court, PHC to Fata

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday unanimously passed “The Supreme Court and High Court (Extension Jurisdiction to Federally Administered Tribal Areas) Bill, 2018”.

The Bill moved by Law Minister Mahmood Bashir Virk is aimed at extending jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Peshawar High Court to Fata.

The bill was opposed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl party.

The National Assembly had already passed the Bill, which has now been sent to President Mamnoon Hussain for approval.

Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Khan Sanjranai has also formed a special committee to look into the matter raised by Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah regarding acute water shortage in Sindh because of non-implementation of Water Accord 1991.

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The committee was formed with the consent of the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed assured the House that no changes were being made in 18th Amendment of the constitution.

He was responding to a calling attention notice moved by Mian Raza Rabbani and Sassui Palijo.

The minister said the unanimously passed 18th Amendment was a marvelous achievement of political parties for which Mian Raza Rabbani’s contribution was commendable.

Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani also admitted an adjournment motion moved by Dr Sikandar Mandhro to discuss the report that Pakistan will run out of forests within next 50 years if deforestation continues at the current rate.

The House has now been prorogued.