QWP leader asks NAB to probe Peshawar BRT project

PESHAWAR: Reacting to a report of Provincial Inspection Team about massive irregularities in the multi-billion rupees mega Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Qaumi Watan Party leader and former senior minister Sikandar Hayat Sherpao on Thursday asked the National Accountability Bureau to probe the case.

Talking to reporters, the QWP leader said that his party had pointed out the anomalies soon after launching of the BRT but the ruling party was not ready to take its notice. “Now the government’s own inspection team confirmed the misuse of public money, use of substandard material, negligence on part of the rulers and causes of delay in completion of the project,” he added.

Flanked by the party’s other leaders, including Asad Khan Afridi and others, the QWP leader rejected the government’s stance to replace two officials as a result of the inspection report and asked for fixation of responsibility on the people concerned including consultants, contractors, and designers to award punishment to all those involved in the corruption.

Sikandar Sherpao said that the details of the report should be made public immediately. He said a federal minister, who was chief executive of the province previously, was directly responsible for it. The report, he added, proved that the BRT in existing shape was extremely dangerous and unable to fulfil the purpose. The QWP leader also expressed concern over the insufficient and delayed release of funds for tribal districts and urged the government to ensure the release of Rs100 billion annually.

The QWP provincial chief also expressed serious concern over the unprecedented price hike. He said that if the government did not stop the spiralling prices of daily use items, the people would take to the streets.