PHC notifies judges' appointments in newly merged tribal districts

PESHAWAR: In a major development on Monday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) approved appointment of judges in tribal districts post merger of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federal Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), ARY News reported on Monday.

PHC issued notification for judges’ appointments in local courts of tribal districts, making a broader step for extending access of judiciary to the tribespeople.

The notification stated appointments of 28 judges in newly merged districts including seven judges for district and sessions’ court while same number were approved on the post of senior civil judges.

14 additional and district judges were also appointed while a senior civil judge, sessions judge and two additional sessions judge will perform duties in each district.

Earlier, a constitutional amendment [The Constitution (Thirty-First Amendment) Bill 2018] for the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was passed in the National Assembly on May 24 – 2018.

Later, the Upper House [Senate] approved the constitutional amendment bill with majority for the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a day after its approval from the Lower House [National Assembly].

The amendment reduces the number of seats in the National Assembly from 342 to 336. The members of the National Assembly from Fata to be elected in the 2018 election shall continue till dissolution of the Lower House. Elections on these provincial legislature seats shall be held within one year after the general elections 2018.