INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NA votes to approve FATA's merger with Khyber PaktunkhwaISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday voted
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan.Government allies Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood
Khan Achakzai were not present in the house as their parties continued their opposition to the bill.Commenting on lack of adequate members
in the house, the prime minister took the floor and said the bill belongs to all the parties
Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said the PPP was ready to wait for the members to come.FATA ReformsUnder the FATA reforms bill, the number
of National Assembly seats (12) and Senate seats (8) will remain unchanged while elections for the Provincial Assembly seats allocated for
FATA would be held next year.According to the bill, the powers that president and the governor had in FATA would no longer be effective
while it would also abolish the FCR.FATA would also acquire additional Rs100 billion beside Rs24 billion under the National Finance
Commission.FATA would also get a special fund of Rs1000 billion.The jurisdiction of Supreme Court and the Peshawar High Court would be
extended to FATA.The areas would also be granted exemption from tax for five years.
