Development fund: PPP to challenge allocation of funds to PML-N MPs
Term decision discriminatory, against Constitution
PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The major opposition group in the National Assembly, the PPP, has criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allocating Rs1billion for each MNA of his party and termed the decision as discriminatory and against the Constitution.
According to a report, the prime minister last week directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to arrange around Rs300 billion for development schemes at the constituencies of the ruling party’s MNAs in a bid to secure their re-election in the next general elections.
Govt accused of unfair distribution of funds
Taking exception to the move, five PPP lawmakers –Shazia Mari, Nafisa Shah, Abdul Sattar Bachani, Shabbir Bajarani, and Makhdoom Mustafa Mehmood – have submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly Secretariat and termed the move as clearly biased.
“This is a clear inequity and bias on the part of the prime minister against the MNAs from other political parties,” the motion stated. The members are of the view that “this discriminatory act by the PM is an issue of urgent public importance which needs discussion on the floor of the house immediately.”
PM orders to allocate Rs1b to each party MNA
Commenting about the motion, PTI’s Asad Umar told The Express Tribune that indeed it was a discriminatory act as it was taxpayers’ money and was not coming from the ruling PML-N’s or the prime minister’s pocket. “We will later lay out party strategy to discuss the issue as to how to take it up in parliament,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2016.
The major opposition group in the National Assembly, the PPP, has criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allocating Rs1billion for each MNA of his party and termed the decision as discriminatory and against the Constitution.
According to a report, the prime minister last week directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to arrange around Rs300 billion for development schemes at the constituencies of the ruling party’s MNAs in a bid to secure their re-election in the next general elections.
Govt accused of unfair distribution of funds
Taking exception to the move, five PPP lawmakers –Shazia Mari, Nafisa Shah, Abdul Sattar Bachani, Shabbir Bajarani, and Makhdoom Mustafa Mehmood – have submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly Secretariat and termed the move as clearly biased.
“This is a clear inequity and bias on the part of the prime minister against the MNAs from other political parties,” the motion stated. The members are of the view that “this discriminatory act by the PM is an issue of urgent public importance which needs discussion on the floor of the house immediately.”
PM orders to allocate Rs1b to each party MNA
Commenting about the motion, PTI’s Asad Umar told The Express Tribune that indeed it was a discriminatory act as it was taxpayers’ money and was not coming from the ruling PML-N’s or the prime minister’s pocket. “We will later lay out party strategy to discuss the issue as to how to take it up in parliament,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2016.