NA passes Constitution Amendment Bill about FATA's merger with KP

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The National Assembly on Thursday approved the Constitution Amendment (31st) Bill about the merger of the FATA with Khyber Pakhrunkhwa. As many as 229 MNAs voted in favor of the bill, while 11 members cast their votes against it. The JUI-F and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party voted against the bill. The bill has been sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the Senate for approval. After approval from the Senate, President Mamnoon Hussain will sign it. After the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) will be totally abolished. The ambit of the Supreme Court Registry and Peshawar High Court will be extended to the FATA. Under the bill, the FATA will be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An amendment is being made to the Article 8. Three amendments have been proposed in the Clause of the Constitution, while four amendments have been proposed in the Article 8. After the passage of the bill, the National Assembly seats will be reduced to 336 from 342. On the other hand, the Senate seats will also be reduced to 96 from 104. However, the FATA senators will complete their tenure. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa seats have been increased to 145. The Article 247 of the Constitution will be deleted. The elections on the provincial assembly seats will be held one year after the general elections 2018.