‘Should have allocated more resources for health, education’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government led by his party should have given more funds for health and education.

He said that he has two questions for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar if things are better now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa than they were five years ago and if KP people are more satisfied now than five years ago.

“I cannot thank Dr Burki for taking the time to regularly visit the LRH at his own expense to oversee revamping of the hospital & our health reforms. I only have 2 Qs for CJP: Are things better now in KP than they were 5 yrs ago? & are KP people more satisfied now than 5 yrs ago?” he said in a series of tweets.

Imran wrote, “On Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), it is always much easier to build a new institution, as we have built a state-of-the-art SKMTH in Peshawar, than to improve an existing institution. But if LRH had not improved why 30 Pakistani doctors working overseas would have returned to serve it?”

“I welcome the CJP remarks on the shortcomings he observed in Peshawar especially the sewerage system which is in need of drastic measures. We should have given more attention & funds to improve these basic facilities for the people but we are trying to take corrective measures,” he said in another tweet.

Imran said, “Hence we have seen a complete decay and degeneration of the police and administration in Punjab and Sindh. And appreciate CJP's praise for KP IGP & CS. When competent officers are appointed solely on merit, as in KP, the police & administration work effectively. In contrast, Punjab & Sindh have seen nepotism flourish with appointments made on personal affinities of loyalists and ‘yes men’”.

The PTI chairman lamented, “Deplorable how Sindh police is instituting false cases against our people who were part of the protest against a young girl's murder in Karachi. Reflects the shameful state of law and order in Sindh.”

Meanwhile, Imran has postponed his visit to Swabi Friday, owing to heavy rain. Accordingly, preparations for the PTI rally in the district were stopped due to the weather conditions. New date of Imran’s visit to the district will be announced soon. Imran was to inaugurate an academic block in Swabi University and Swabi Sports Complex.

The PTI on Friday issued show cause notices to its 20 Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) of KP in relation to alleged selling of their votes in the Senate elections instead of voting for the party candidates.

The PTI central media department issued a statement and images of the notices sent to the male and female legislators. The text of all these notices is almost identical.

The official statement carries signatures of the PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq. The PTI members have been asked to provide a written response within 15 days and can also seek a personal hearing before any action is taken against them.

The notice, addressing the MPAs, says, “As a member of PTI and its member of provincial assembly, you were under binding commitment and duty to cast your vote qua member of provincial assembly solely for the designated PTI candidate for the Senate in the elections. However, in serious and flagrant violation of your duty and obligation as a member of PTI, you, acting dishonestly, corruptly and in serious breach of the party discipline and applicable law, did not cast your vote for the designated PTI candidate on March 03, 2018.”

“In the event no written response is received from you to this show cause notice within the stipulated time period it shall be presumed that you do not contest this show cause notice or otherwise have no defence and acquiesce to the cancellation and termination of your membership of the PTI and to being expelled from the PTI and in such event further proceedings in the matter shall be without any further notice to you,” the statement read.

The PTI has formed a six-member disciplinary committee headed by Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, KP ministers Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, Shah Farman, MNA Shaharyar Afridi and Naeemul Haq to conduct and complete the proceedings.

Imran Khan on Tuesday revealed the names of lawmakers before the media who allegedly sold votes during the Senate election and announced to expel them from the party and sending their cases to the NAB.

Meanwhile, a group of five MPAs, who are part of the 20-member group, having been served notices, held a meeting here Friday afternoon to review the situation and mull options to contest what they called the insult, unleashed on them by none other than the PTI chief without following a due procedure.

“We have different options before us. We were waiting for notices and now they have been served on us. After studying them and consulting legal experts, we will chalk out future course of action,” one of them told The News after their meeting.