Wadood Jan
PESHAWAR: Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the absence of provincial ministers and members from assembly session and announced that he would send their attendance to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Raising question on the absence of provincial ministers and treasury members from assembly session the Opposition Leader Akram Khan Durrani said that no minister was present to answer the queries on the performance of the government and discuss public welfare related matters.
Responding to objection, Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani he flayed PTI ministers and members for showing non-serious attitude towards assembly sessions. Speaker said that he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Imran Khan and would send their Tuesday’s attendance to him.
Earlier to this, Speaking on floor of the House the Opposition Leader Akram Khan Durrani said that law minister had over burdened himself with the loads and tasks of the House and he only seems serious while rest of the ministers were not serious regarding the provincial assembly proceedings.
He maintained that house was to discuss Annual Developmental Programme (ADP) on Tuesday but no minister concerned was present.
Durrani said that the province was already under burden of 500 billions rupees debt, while the government was borrowing more 200 billion rupees. “How the government would pay it back,” asks Durrani.
“Chief Minister, opposition, courts and general masses have reservations over the delay in completion of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project,” he asserted and said that if the provincial investigation team could probe the mega project then the members of the house could also do so.
Discussing the ADP on the floor of the house, Inayatullah Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) raised a number of questions and said no formula and frame work have been introduced for the distribution of funds among the districts and it was not obvious how much fund was given to a district.
“What formula had been followed while giving out Rs.57 billion to Peshawar, Rs.19 billion to Nowshera, Rs.15 billion to Swat, Rs10 billion Swabi, Rs.328 million to Tank,” he questioned and added that what ranking pattern was followed?
He maintained that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) followed regional disparity in the allocations of funds, while equity was wished in the share.
“Government should tell what percentage the province receives from PSDP and what were the names of the projects,” he added and said that how much had the province received under the foreign assistance project?
Answering the questions of Inayatullah Khan and other opposition members the Senior Minister Atif Khan said that all the constituencies have right over the budget and funds adding that 30 per cent goes to local government and later distributed among the districts.
“On the rest of Seventy per cent the members had been and would be taken in loop,” he said and added that every elected member expects to receive a handsome and equal share for his constituency.
Atif Khan maintained that government would sit with opposition to seek consensus over the funds.
Earlier to this Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) from opposition Khushdil Khan said that before formulating ADP the members from all political parties ought to be approached on their demands and projects needed to be initiated in their respective constituencies.
“Government should purchase land for schools and colleges to avoid serious problems,” he suggested and said that asking for free land to build institutions hamper the educational process of children and grown.
Taking his turn Sardar Hussain Babak said that PTI was in 6th year of power in the province but no developmental work could be seen in the province.
“In the last eight months the PTI government could complete its cabinet,” Babak objected and said unfortunately they could not move no confidence motion because the opposition was also less in number.
Minister for Food Qalandar Lodhi, was present in the assembly session, carrying random responsibility of answering the questions for other ministers said that Chief Minster Mahmood Khan had told him in a meeting that all the members would be given funds and and all schemes would prioritized.
“He would play a bridge role between the government and opposition,” he vowed and added that opposition and parliamentarians must sit with the CM.
Qalandar also complained on the floor of the house that administrative secretaries do not bother to come to house and even ignore the written message sent to them.
Responding the complaint of the minister the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said that it was the duty and jurisdiction of government to bring secretaries to the house instead of assembly.
Also female member of PTI Maleeha Asghar expressed her views on house floor and said that they were against the vulgarity in the name of freedom.
“The women were mocked by the civil societies by bringing a resolution regarding women in the House,” she added.
MPA Muhammad Arif moved the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Buildings (Management, Control and Allotment) (Amendment) Bill 2019” which unanimously passed by the house.
Later, the Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani adjourned the assembly session till March 27 (Wednesday).
