The National Assembly on Monday voted on the 26th Constitutional Amendment bill 2019 seeking to increase the number of seats representing the former tribal districts in the national and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly.
Presented by independent lawmakers Mohsin Dawar, the bill seeking an increase in seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was tabled by the independent lawmaker Mohsin Dawar on Thursday last week, during Monday’s vote lawmakers passed the bill unanimously when it only required two-thirds majority to amend the constitution.
Expressing his pleasure at the united support the constitutional amendment witnessed, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “I am very happy the entire house has supported this constitutional amendment.”
The prime minister told members about the 3 percent allocation from each province’s share of the NFC award. He told the provinces that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone cannot provide funds to alleviate the issues face by the tribal areas.
“I know they [provinces] have some fears. The economic situation is bad, and their funds are not at the level that they should be, but I think this is necessary.”
South Punjab Bill
Another bill seeking the constitution of the South Punjab province was also tabled before the assembly.
The bill was moved by PTI leader Makhdoom Syed Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani.
While addressing the house, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are on the same page regarding the South Punjab province matter.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), however, opposed the bill.
The House also adopted a proposal authorising the speaker of the assembly to form a Special Committee comprising treasury and opposition benches to examine the amendment bill.
