Ehtesab Commission gets more power and independence to eradicate corruption

KP Assembly passes bill

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday passed the Ehtesab Commission (Amendment) Bill, giving more power and independence to the provincial accountability commission to eradicate corruption.

However, the treasury benches opposed the proposed amendments to the bill, empowering the Ehtesab Commission to investigate and interfere in the ongoing projects and schemes of the government.

They took the plea that it would affect and stop development works in the province. The bill was presented by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Imtiaz Shahid on behalf of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, who was chairperson of the select committee.

The bill was presented after consensus was evolved by parliamentary leaders in the select committee. However, parliamentary leaders of Pakistan People’s Party Mohammad Ali Shah and Awami National Party Sardar Hussain Babak had suggested some more amendments to the proposed bill.

The amendments of Sardar Babak lapsed due to his absence while the amendments related to the qualification of director general of Ehtesab Commission were opposed. Another amendment related to probe and investigate the projects initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government were opposed by the ruling alliance.  “This is an historical day to make legislation for eliminating corruption from government departments and the society,” provincial Minister Shah Farman said.

He said the provincial government would have no influence or interference in the accountability process and arrest or investigation of any corrupt person should not be branded as political victimisation.

“The commission would now be free to arrest any politician, bureaucrat and contractor for their involvement in corruption,” he added. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak appreciated the role of opposition benches for cooperating with government. He said the Ehtesab Commission could be improved further.

He added all the flaws and loopholes in the previous Ehtesab Bill had been removed and now the commission would arrest any person after a thorough investigation.The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 was also tabled in provincial assembly. It would give more powers to district governments, nazims and elected councillors.

The provincial assembly also passed a unanimous resolution, asking the federal government to resolve the problems of Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia. The resolution, which was read out by Pakistan People’s Party Member Provincial Assembly Sahibzada Sanaullah was signed by all parliamentary leaders in the House.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in his remarks said that he had written a letter to the Foreign Office to take notice of sufferings of the Pakistanis. The resolutions said that two of the 2.5 million Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas.

Through another resolution, the provincial assembly condemned terrorist attacks in Madina during Ramazan and vowed to protect and safeguard the holy places in Saudi Arabia.