Pakistan's Senate approves bill to give tribes equal rights
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pakistan's upper house of parliament has passed a bill giving equal rights to 5 million people in the restive northwestern tribal region. It's a key step in bringing the tribes into the country's mainstream life and abolishing a vestige of British colonial rule.
The legislation was adopted in the Senate on Friday, a day after the lower house, the National Assembly, also approved it.
Now it goes to President Mamnoon Hussain for signing, likely within days, before becoming law.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The legislation merges the lawless tribal area with the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing it into mainstream politics and giving its residents basic rights, such as the right to a trial.
Pakistan's tribal regions have long been a haven for militants and have seen several military operations in recent years.