NWFP Assembly session: Opp and treasury members accuse govt of favoritism

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The opposition and the treasury members in the NWFP Assembly on Friday accused the government of ignoring their (members) constituencies and obliging its favourites in the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

“A good ADP shows the performance of the government,” said Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary leader, while speaking about the ADP. “It is for the first time that we have heard of an umbrella ADP. The government has introduced it (umbrella ADP) to oblige its favourites,” he added. Bilour demanded that all elected members should be given development funds.

The ANP leader referred to the NWFP chief minister’s statement in which the latter had said that every elected member would be the chief minister of his constituency. Bilour said the chief minister had promised that every member would be given Rs 5 million for development schemes. “I have not received this promised fund so far,” he said.

Bilour also mentioned various Peshawar problems, including the Surai overhead bridge project, which he said was causing traffic problems despite being launched a long time ago. He urged the government to immediately address problems faced by the residents of Peshawar.

Shahzada Gustasip, opposition leader, said the NWFP chief minister had assured the opposition on the floor of the house that a committee would be formed in which the opposition and government members would make decisions on umbrella projects. A minister had also said on the floor of the house that the ADP will not be launched until the committee was formed, he added. “This has not happened and the government has broken its promise which is against the teachings of Islam,” said the opposition leader.

Sabira Shakir of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) criticised the ADP and said that only influential members could get ADP funds. There are no welfare schemes for women under the ADP, she added. MMA’s Mufti Hussain Ahmed also complained about the slow progress of water and road schemes in his constituency.

Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai of the Pakistan Muslim League said that women members of the NWFP Assembly had been ignored in the ADP. She urged all women members to unite for their rights. “We will boycott the coming budget session if we are ignored in future,” she said.

MMA’s Farid Khan said his constituency had been deliberately ignored in the ADP and the development schemes were left incomplete “It is a conspiracy against me. They are trying to defame me,” he said. He protested the incomplete schemes and asked the government to take action against the works and services department.

ANP’s Atiqur Rehman said that he had not been consulted in the ADP schemes and he did not even know who had recommended the establishment of schools in his constituency.

Sirajul Haq, NWFP senior minister, said the government had given preference to remote areas in the ADP and had started development projects there.

Opening debate on his adjournment motion, ANP’s Atiqur Rehman said that Hangu had been given the status of a district four years ago but it still lacked public offices like police lines, a judicial complex, district headquarters hospital and a district jail. The ANP MPA urged the government to set up offices in Hangu to solve the problems of the people.

Malik Zafar Azam, NWFP industries minister, said the government had launched development projects in Hangu and work on the establishment of offices would start soon.

On a joint call attention notice, MPAs Dr Muhammad Saleem and Sarfraz Khan said it was not possible for the community to run non-operating tube wells.

Home | National