ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday dismissed objections raised on a petition filed by PTI chief Imran Khan seeking directives for the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The chief justice set aside the objections of the apex court’s registrar and issued directives for fixing the matter for hearing before a bench.
Advocate Babar Awan, representing the PTI chief, appeared before the CJP and presented his arguments.
Naming the President of Pakistan, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions and In-charge FATA Secretariat, Peshawar as respondents, the petitioner pleaded with the court to order the merger of the areas of Fata with KP province.
In the petition, Khan submitted that the federal government had been delaying the merger of the Fata with KP on one reason or the other despite the fact that the provincial government was ready for the amalgamation.
He argued that it is the fundamental right of the people of Fata to enjoy equal protection of law and to be treated in accordance with the law as an integral part of the federation.
The President of Pakistan in consultation with the KP government and other relevant authorities announced a Fata reforms package.
Afterwards, the government of KP fulfilled its constitutional requirements to merge Fata with the KP province and the provincial assembly passed a resolution to this effect.
But, Khan, said the respondents backed down from the merger plan owing to some political reasons, violating their commitment.
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