BHC orders removal of 450 projects from budget

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) Friday remarked that development budget should be used on national interest projects and 450 individual projects should be abolished from the current budget.

A two-member bench of the high court, comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokel and Justice Kamran Mulakhel, issued these remarks while hearing miscellaneous constitutional petitions regarding PSDP. They said the funds set for projects of individual nature should be used on education and health. They said that projects of individual nature are political bribe, violation of SC orders and Planning Commission rules.

They remarked that hue and cry is raised over intervention into parliamentary affairs but the court has a right to ask the parliamentarians when they violate the rules they themselves have set up.

The constitutional petitions were filed by provincial minister Mir Asim Kurd, opposition leader Abdurahim Zyar Tawal and parliamentary leader of the Aawami National Party. Many key officers of the province were present in the court. Balochistan chief secretary could not attend the proceedings because he was out of the province.

The bench remarked they are guards of the Constitution and law, and those who mistake them for opponents to the democratic system represent a wrong mindset. In the next hearing, chief secretary will present a report on the new financial year.