PHC seeks govt reply in petition against umbrella schemes

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday again asked the provincial government to submit a reply to a petition filed by opposition members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly against the inclusion of umbrella/block schemes in the Annual Development Program (ADP).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard the petition. It extended the stay order issued against the allocation and use of funds on umbrella/block schemes.

Opposition leader of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Dr Ibadullah and other members had filed the petition. The petitioners’ counsels Sultan Muhammad Khan, Babar Khan Yousafzai and Additional Advocate General Rauf Afridi appeared in the court.AAG Rauf Afridi informed the court that a meeting had been held between government and opposition members on this issue and dialogue was going on.

He assured the court that a response would be submitted in this regard.Justice Sahibzada Asadullah inquired from the petitioners’ counsel whether they had any objections. Sultan Muhammad Khan advocate said that they had a hope for a solution to the issue.

He prayed to the court for an extension of the stay order, saying that the court had already halted the distribution of funds.After arguments, the bench extended the stay order and adjourned the hearing.

The petition said that the provincial government had included block schemes in the ADP, which was unconstitutional and illegal.These schemes, it argued, had been included only to benefit favourite assembly members, while opposition members were being denied funds for their respective constituencies.

The petition read that the Supreme Court had already declared such schemes void and ruled that development projects were meant for the public and that all developmental funds should be distributed equally.