Opp cries foul over uplift funds

LAHORE

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Muhammad Arif Abbasi’s quorum call in the Punjab Assembly session on Monday jeopardised government business as the Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha was unable to give her final remarks in the last day of the pre-budget session. Attendance in the House was noticeably thin with only a few ministers present and four members on the opposition bench. 

Before calling for quorum, the PTI MPA blasted the Punjab government in his speech for allocating Rs360 million for the security of the Prime Minister’s Raiwind residence in last year’s supplementary budget, whilst ignoring the state of health and education in the province.

Referring to the Panama Leaks, Abbasi called out the government for their hypocritical attitude in making the case for revenue collection whilst hiding wealth in the form of millions of dollars in offshore businesses. Arif Abbasi demanded that an operation be started in Punjab similar to the Rangers operation in Sindh against those involved in corruption in public office and the private sector. The country is on a ventilator because of the corruption of the PML-N government at the federal and provincial level, said Abbasi.

The PTI MPA also claimed that development work started during the local government elections had been halted and for three years opposition members had not been given development funds for their constituencies. Arif Abbasi said democracy was in peril in light of the current situation. 

Other members of the House also recorded their disappointment and suggestions for the upcoming 2016-17 budget. PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf noted that clean drinking water remained a dream to be fulfilled in Punjab and recommended that more funds be allocated to building more water filtration plants. 

Meanwhile, his counterpart, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram regretted that there were no public parks in his constituency in Sialkot for youths recreational activities, the Sialkot Technology University had yet to be opened for enrolment, and public schools for girls were also missing. 

PML-N MPA from Gujranwala Muhammad Taufiq Butt praised the government for Khadim-e-Ala Rural Roads programme, but at the same time pointed out the lack of funding to repair dangerous school buildings across the province and the need for graveyards in Gujranwala. Butt also criticised the government for not appreciating the weight-lifting athletes of Gujranwala with meetings and awards for their winnings at local and regional competitions. 

PML-N MPA Chaudhry Tariq Subhani said that the capacity of Punjab police should be significantly expanded to address the worsening law and order in the province. He called for a limit to their hours on duty to ensure alertness and increase in salary to get better performance. Subhani also noted that Wazirabad Cardiology Hospital was not yet made fully functional even though emergency services had been launched. 

Independent MPA Abdul Razzaq Khan Niazi echoed earlier criticism by stating that opposition and independent members were being denied development funds in their constituencies. 

Earlier in the session, the question hour focused on higher education, transport and livestock and dairy development departments with Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education Mehwish Sultana and Food Minister Bilal Yasin facing a tough time from both benches.

Upon receiving a question from PML-N MPA Amjad Ali Javed on the state of veterinary hospitals for livestock animals, the food minister without a hint of embarrassment claimed that there were no surgical facilities for animals as this was only reserved for the higher species, human beings. 

A call-attention notice by PML-Q MPA Khadija Umar brought the attention of the House to the murder of three workers at a tikka shop in the Islampura area of the city. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed the incident and informed that the perpetrator Muhammad Javed had been found and arrested by Punjab police. The House was adjourned for Tuesday (today).