ABBOTABAD: The deputy speaker of the National Assembly has accused Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser of allocating a major chunk of development budget to their constituencies and ignoring other districts.
While addressing journalists at the Electronic Media Association’s Abbottabad office on Monday, Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that although Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims to be the champion of justice and honesty, its leaders are cheating the electorate by diverting funds worth billions to only two specific constituencies of Nowshera and Swabi, ignoring the rest of the province.
Qaiser was elected from PK-35 Swabi-V, while Khattak hails from PK-13 Nowshera-II constituency.
“Do the people of other districts of K-P have no right to the province’s development budget,” questioned Abbasi. He accused the provincial government of exercising nepotism by appointing ineligible people to posts of grade 16 and 17.
In response to a question, the NA deputy speaker said in response to PTI’s Islamabad sit-in, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) workers could also do the same in Peshawar, but the party’s leadership opted not to do so because that could harm the economy which is against PML-N’s agenda.
“While the federal government is paying displaced families Rs12,000 every month, the PTI-led provincial government only gave them financial aid once. This is a proof of the PTI’s sincerity with North Waziristan’s displaced people,” added Abbasi.
Speaking about PTI’s planned gathering on November 30 in the federal capital, Abbasi said the rally is only permitted on the condition that it remains peaceful. “Otherwise, the law will take its course and those violating it would be dealt with strictly,” he added.
According to the deputy speaker, the process of approving resignations of PTI lawmakers is under way and will be completed after verification from the relevant MNAs.
Self-praise?
Shifting the topic of discussion to PML-N’s development agenda, Abbasi said when his party took over, the national economy was in shambles but the PML-N’s policies have restored the trust of foreign investors and billions pouring in as investment was proof of the PML-N’s success.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has honoured the promise he made during his election campaign and approved the multi-billion rupees Hazara Motorway project. The foundation stone will be laid on November 29 at Havelian,” said Abbasi.
The deputy speaker further said during phase one of the project, Rs33 billion will be spent on the 60km-long Burhan to Havelian section of the motorway. “This will be completed within 18 months and will usher in a new era of development for Hazara Division by creating hundreds of jobs.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2014.
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