Non-members disguised in burqa attend budget meeting

JUI-F councillors in question said they were not even informed about session

DI KHAN: A few days ago, the Tank district budget was passed with two “women”, said to be from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, joining in to complete the quorum.

However, the women were reportedly someone else—disguised in burqas—as JUI-F councillors whose names were used in the district council meeting.

The councillors from JUI-F, Hifsa and Zehra, submitted a written application to the deputy commissioner of Tank, saying they were neither informed of the district council meeting, nor did they participate in the budget session. They demanded legal action be taken.

“I was not at the budget meeting,” Hifsa told journalists on Sunday. “There is not even a signature or thumbprint of mine anywhere.”

She added two other women were brought in their place to the meeting in burqas. “This budget is bogus [then].”



The two women were also accompanied by four other members of JUI-F and seven Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members who were against the district nazim, who happens to be from PTI.

“The budget meeting was delayed five times, but later when it did take place, it was done in a deceptive manner,” PTI councillor Irfan Kundi told journalists on Monday. “Two women were given money to attend the budget session in burqa.”

He added it was injustice and that they would resist using legal means. “The district nazim has lost the confidence of the majority. He should resign.”

Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan has taken notice of the issue and directed the deputy commissioner of the district to “not take action as the case was pending with the local government commission”. This was mentioned in a statement issued on Monday.

The local government commission would take up the case on August 30.

Hurried session

On August 18, the Tank district council meeting was called at 11am, but was held at 9am, two hours earlier, to pass the district budget for 2016-17. The budget was passed with a simple majority, after which sweets were distributed among the councillors.

The budget was passed as soon as the simple majority was acquired. Earlier, the budget meeting was postponed five times due to the lack of quorum.

The Tank district council speaker, Aftab Baloch, told journalists that they required 13 members to pass the budget. “We had 11 members of our own and were later joined by two JUI-F councillors.”

A big deal

The burqa issue has caused uproar in the public. Some people have condemned it, calling it a disgrace to the parda culture.   Moreover, others have been wondering whether those who attended the district council meeting in burqa were women or men.

The PTI workers took out a protest rally from Irfan Shaheed Park till Tank Press Club. The rally was led by PTI leader Amir Muhammad alias Mama. The protesters were shouting slogans against the district nazim.

The protesters demanded PTI Chairperson Imran Khan expel district nazim Mustafa Kundi and PTI district MNA Dawar Kundi as they are bringing a bad name for the party.

Recent days have seen the Kundi brothers in hot water. Dawar is one of those PTI members who are against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. It is said that even Khattak wants the district government, run by Mustafa, to collapse.

However, Mustafa and Dawar say they want to work in a transparent manner, but opponents cause hindrances in their activity.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.