Budget tussle continues: Development projects, salaries of local govt staff stopped
DC terms passing of the budget from the district council illegal
Through the writ petition, the petitioners have requested the high court to declare the passage of the budget as void as rules were not followed for its approval. PHOTO: ONLINE
PESHAWAR:
All development projects have been halted across the city and salaries of employees have also been stopped in view of the tug of war between the city district government and city administration over the passage of the budget.
The city district budget has become the bone of contention between city district nazim and DC Riaz Mehsud. The DC termed the decision to pass the budget from the district council illegal.
On the day of budget session, Mehsud also wrote a letter to local government department secretary, saying the DC’s office was not taken into confidence when the budget was being prepared.
Subsequently, the provincial finance department, through a letter written to the local government secretary, said the DC is the principal accounting officer (PAO) of the district.
According to the letter, the formulation and consolidation of district budget proposals and its scrutiny comes under the DC’s domain as per the District Budget Rules 2016.
In addition, the letter added the decision to prepare and present the budget without consulting the DC in the district council was illegal.
The case was presented to the local government commission for a proper decision under the relevant rules. However, a month has passed but the budget controversy has yet to be resolved.
Biased approach
While speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, city district nazim Arbab Mohammad Asim criticised the biased and irresponsible attitude of the local government commission. He said the salaries and non-salary payments of the district government has also been stopped. He said all utility bills of basic health units have been pending because of the matter.
“Many BHUs are also facing a grave shortage of medicines as the budget for it has yet to be released,” the city district nazim said.
Asim said he appeared before the local government commission regarding the budget crisis. He informed them that the budget was passed following proper rules and regulations.
The city district nazim the budget should not have been made controversial even if there were a host of unresolved issues.
“The bureaucracy and local government commission’s irresponsibility has halted the overall working of the district government by making the budget controversial,”
Asim said.
Moreover, the city district nazim said there has been no timeframe given by the local government commission to resolve the issue. However, he said he has been asked to submit a written reply to the commission about the budget issue.
The city district budget has also been challenged by opposition members of the district council in the Peshawar High Court through a writ petition. The petition was filed by Saeed Zahir, Safdar Baghi and others through their counsel Advocate Ayaz Khan under Article 199 of the Constitution.
Through the writ petition, the petitioners have requested the high court to declare the passage of the budget as void as rules were not followed for its approval.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.
All development projects have been halted across the city and salaries of employees have also been stopped in view of the tug of war between the city district government and city administration over the passage of the budget.
The city district budget has become the bone of contention between city district nazim and DC Riaz Mehsud. The DC termed the decision to pass the budget from the district council illegal.
On the day of budget session, Mehsud also wrote a letter to local government department secretary, saying the DC’s office was not taken into confidence when the budget was being prepared.
Subsequently, the provincial finance department, through a letter written to the local government secretary, said the DC is the principal accounting officer (PAO) of the district.
According to the letter, the formulation and consolidation of district budget proposals and its scrutiny comes under the DC’s domain as per the District Budget Rules 2016.
In addition, the letter added the decision to prepare and present the budget without consulting the DC in the district council was illegal.
The case was presented to the local government commission for a proper decision under the relevant rules. However, a month has passed but the budget controversy has yet to be resolved.
Biased approach
While speaking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, city district nazim Arbab Mohammad Asim criticised the biased and irresponsible attitude of the local government commission. He said the salaries and non-salary payments of the district government has also been stopped. He said all utility bills of basic health units have been pending because of the matter.
“Many BHUs are also facing a grave shortage of medicines as the budget for it has yet to be released,” the city district nazim said.
Asim said he appeared before the local government commission regarding the budget crisis. He informed them that the budget was passed following proper rules and regulations.
The city district nazim the budget should not have been made controversial even if there were a host of unresolved issues.
“The bureaucracy and local government commission’s irresponsibility has halted the overall working of the district government by making the budget controversial,”
Asim said.
Moreover, the city district nazim said there has been no timeframe given by the local government commission to resolve the issue. However, he said he has been asked to submit a written reply to the commission about the budget issue.
The city district budget has also been challenged by opposition members of the district council in the Peshawar High Court through a writ petition. The petition was filed by Saeed Zahir, Safdar Baghi and others through their counsel Advocate Ayaz Khan under Article 199 of the Constitution.
Through the writ petition, the petitioners have requested the high court to declare the passage of the budget as void as rules were not followed for its approval.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.