CJP asked to take note of anomalies in Peshawar BRT project

NOWSHERA: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Asif Luqman Qazi has said that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has turned into a disaster for the people of Peshawar due to the political adventurism and selfishness of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

Speaking at a press conference here, Asif Luqman Qazi, who is also political advisor to the JI chief, said that if inquiry into the Panama Papers Leaks could be initiated, why not the BRT issue should be investigated.

He offered accountability of the JI ministers but demanded accountability of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the BRT, Billion Tree Tsunami project and Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation.

The JI leader asked Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar to take suo motu notice of the alleged negligence in the BRT project and bring the accused to justice. He said that BRT was being constructed with money from public exchequer and the people had the right to demand inquiry into the embezzlement in the project.

Asif Luqman Qazi said the government had said that the BRT would cost Rs49 billion. “Now the cost of the project had risen to Rs70 billion due to the interference of the chief minister,” he alleged.

The JI leader said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman used to scoff at the similar bus project which was launched by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in Lahore and Rawalpindi.

“The PTI leader Asad Umar had claimed that the KP government would complete the BRT project with a cost of Rs9 billion, he said, alleging a construction company which had been blacklisted in the Orange Line project in Lahore was chosen by the KP government to hand the BRT project. ‘ Asif Luqman Qazi claimed that the BRT project design had been changed for 33 times and thus the KP government was providing an opportunity to the contractor to receive additional amount.