Vote block: Opposition fails to initiate enquiry into Farman

Minister comes under fire for not taking area MPAs onboard for development schemes.

PESHAWAR:

Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman came under fire from opposition benches during Monday’s assembly session. He was accused of violating the K-P Establishment of District Planning and Development Advisory Committees Act.

The matter rose from a privilege motion of the opposition bench, alleging the public health engineering (PHE) department violated the act under which all annual development programme (ADP) schemes in districts should be operated with the consent and advice of MPAs from that area. The opposition took up the issue on the floor of the house, asking the speaker of the house to refer the matter to the relevant committee for a detailed discussion.



Water under the bridge

The PHE department has started clean drinking water schemes in Lakki Marwat under the ADP but the MPA from the region has not been consulted for any advice.

Farman insisted the matter should not be handed over to the committee as it may hinder development schemes, implementation of which was begun on a need-basis.

“My department has conducted a survey to ensure potable water is available in the province. Karak, DI Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat have been prioritised because of the dire need in those areas,” said Farman. “If the matter is given to a committee, it would hinder progress already been made. This will not be in the public interest.”

Farman went on to say, “The projects were started on a need-basis unlike when the previous government established tube wells to benefit their own.” His response added fuel to the fire; opposition members said his response was tantamount to maligning the lawmakers. Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rahman, Mehmood Batani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party lawmaker Jaffar Shah, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentary leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha and lawmaker Raja Faisal Zaman, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Samiullah Alizai wanted the issue to be sent to the committee. However, the speaker put the issue up for a vote.

With 42 votes in Farman’s favour, the opposition’s motion was defeated. After losing, opposition members tore copies of the agenda and walked out of the house shouting “Shame! Shame!”

Q&A

Earlier, in the Q&A session, things heated up as opposition members objected over ministers, advisers to CM and DDAC chairpersons spending large amounts from the provincial kitty on perks and privileges.

JUI-F lawmaker Mufti Syed Janan had asked the minister for local government to provide details of benefits enjoyed by all ministers, advisers and DDAC chairpersons in the last two years. The LG department only provided details for DDAC chairpersons from Bannu, Buner and Kohistan. These chairpersons also act as advisers to the CM. Janan was not satisfied with the answer and requested the issue be referred to the relevant committee.

According to the information provided by the department, Rs2.16 million were spent by Bannu DDAC chairperson in 2013-14 on fuel, gifts and entertainment, stationery, travelling and office repairs while the Buner chairperson spent Rs2.2 million and the Kohistan chairperson spent Rs3.14 million in the same year.

Janan objected chairpersons, advisers and ministers enjoyed privileges which the province is too poor to afford. “People die of hunger in our province while millions are spent on entertainment and other perks,” added Janan. “We were told when this government would take charge, advisers would not be given any privileges.”

Replying to Janan’s question, the Auqaf Minister Habibur Rehman of Jamat-e-Islami said, “Ministers, DDAC chairpersons and advisers get privileges under laws passed by this house.” He added the gift allowance has been closed for over nine months after the speaker’s ruling banned it. Bakht Baidar Khan of Qaumi Watan Party said there is no need of such luxuries when the finance department has no money.

The speaker deferred the issue for a detailed discussion on it.

After the opposition walkout, the house took supplementary agenda for the day and passed the K-P Partnership (Amendment) Act 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2015.