Pak to merge PATA, FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan has decided to also merge Provincially Administered Tribal Areas ( PATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas ( FATA).

The bill in this regard will likely be tabled before the Parliament for legislation on Thursday ( Today).

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday held a meeting with heads of Parliamentary parties in his chamber and issues relating to FATA and PATA merger in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came under discussion.

It was further decided in the meeting that Federal Crimes Regulation ( FCR) would not be revoked at once and the government would remove some of its draconian clauses to make it acceptable till the time the administrative and judicial infrastructure would be set up in these areas.

The timeline for the merger would be one year but the exercise would most likely to be completed much earlier. After the merger of both FATA and PATA the people of these areas would be given representation in provincial legislature.

The elections to the provincial assembly seats would be done after the delimitation of the constituencies and once the exercise is complete the elections on these seats would be held and the lawmakers from these areas would join the provincial assembly by next year.

According to the proposed 30th constitutional amendment bill, these areas would be getting 23 provincial assembly seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

◗ After the merger of both FATA and PATA the people of these areas would be given representation in provincial legislature