Treasury benches accused of misuse of funds, authority

PESHAWAR: The opposition members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday lashed out at the treasury benches for “misuse of power and misappropriation of funds.”

Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Rishad Khan hailing from Shangla on a point of order said that millions of rupees were being spent on the assembly sessions, but the ministers were least bothered to attend the proceedings.

He alleged that the bills of the functions and meetings held at Banigala were being paid from the provincial exchequer. He said legislation was carried out on the directives of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) had lodged corruption cases against 11 members of provincial assembly, including ministers, but the commission was made dysfunctional.

The lawmaker added that government functionaries were involved in corruption. He alleged that tenders for the construction of flood-damaged houses in Shangla were cancelled at the behest of an MPA from Peshawar.

He said he inaugurated uplift schemes in his constituency, but funds were not being released to carry out the work. He alleged that 50 percent commission was being taken in development schemes.

Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak also criticised the provincial government and said PTI Chairman Imran Khan held workers’ meeting at the Chief Minister’s House at the government expenses.

He said PTI workers from all over the province were called to the Chief Minister’s House to make strategies for protests and sit-ins.

Sardar Babak said that hatching conspiracies against democracy and locking down cities was disservice to the country.

He said that threats were being hurled to dissolve the provincial assembly, but the opposition would not allow anyone to snatch public mandate. The MPA said that those who wanted to dissolve the assembly should resign or quit the government.

Replying to the allegations of Rishad Khan, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah said that record legislation was carried out during the tenure of the government.

He said bills were enacted after proper discussion at the meetings of the select committees.

He said the member should raise the allegations at proper forums like National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission and Anti-Corruption Establishment if he had any proof.

Inayatullah said the opposition member should bring an adjournment motion and take the matter to the public accounts committee.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members staged a walkout when the speakers closed the mike of Rishad Khan and asked Inayatullah to take the floor.  The speaker adjourned the session till November 21 when Amina Sardar of PML-N pointed out the lack of quorum.