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Friday March 29, 2024

MPAs’ funds abolished in KP: Imran

By Mumtaz Alvi
July 26, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan on Monday unveiled a 13-point charter for improved legislation and other development works in Khyber Pakhtunhwa (KP) while stopping the allocation of development funds to MPAs, challenging chief ministers of the other three provinces to follow suit. He said the development budget would be utilised through local government (LG) representatives.

He told a media conference here at the KP House that whistleblowers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would get 25 percent of the embezzled amount on its recovery besides legal protection following the passage of a Whistleblowers Protection and Vigilance Act from the provincial assembly. He announced the charter amid some reports of differences with KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak over disgruntled party lawmakers.

“Whoever points out corruption in any government department, will get 25 percent of the amount recovered from a corrupt person after investigations,” Imran maintained. He wants to strengthen the local government system in the province.

He said that no development funds would be given to any MPA in the province rather the development budget to the tune of Rs33 billion would directly go to the local government representatives in all the districts.

Imran Khan announced that a provincial finance commission was also being set up for allocation of the funds to the development projects and other places where they were needed the most.

PTI chairman noted that the discretionary powers of Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak regarding the development funds had also been abolished. He added that the provincial government was introducing some cogent amendments to KP Ehtesab Act and this would be even more strengthened than the previous one.

Imran said, “The provincial government is also passing a conflict of interest law to prevent the public office holders from doing business”. Galliyat Development Authority is being established to take care of all the tourist spots in the area while Chief Minister House and Speaker House in Nathiagali would also be opened for general public.

He maintained that top taxpayers and investors would also be able to stay in CM House in Peshawar and this was being done to encourage them. Imran contended other provinces dare not open the doors of their respective CM Houses for general public.

“All appointments and recruitments above class five will be made through the National Testing Service (NTS) to ensure merit in the government jobs. The process is already underway in around 70 percent of the departments,” he noted.

Imran said that the provincial government was also introducing reforms in lower judiciary to expedite the cases disposal process and provide relief to the litigants.

About apprehensions about madrissa reforms in the province, he said the provincial government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Darul Aloom Madrissa Haqqania to introduce reforms in the syllabus of the seminary.

“We are trying to develop a uniform syllabus in the province and this is a first step in the direction,” he said.

The provincial government, Imran noted, was also working on a police act to make the force more independent, non-political and neutral and public safety commissions would also be set up at the district level to keep a check on performance of the police.

Imran contended that a committee under Rustam Shah Mohmand had been set up to resolve issues of Afghan refugees living in the province amicably.

As regards dissident party members, he said that an MNA and two MPAs would appear before a Disciplinary Committee of the party to explain their position.

PTI chairman apologised to the media persons, who were subjected to violence by his party workers outside NAB office earlier. He promised those responsible would be taken to task.