K-P performance: Qaiser defends helicopter ride, talks of achievements

Says provincial assembly enacted 150 laws during its term so far

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assembly speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday took umbrage at the ‘negative’ media portrayal of his helicopter trip from Abbottabad to his hometown Swabi.

Qaiser’s helicopter ride on Saturday sparked debate on social media pertaining to the short distance and how a road trip would only take an hour. Pictures of him entering the helicopter were picked up by the local media and aired as breaking news.

Speaking to the media-persons gathered at the K-P assembly, during a visit of all the parliamentarians of the country, Qaiser said that was his first trip in the government helicopter “which he is entitled to using for official trips”.

“I was in Abbotabad for an official government school ceremony, and the helicopter is for the government use. Do I not have the right to use it?” he asked the reporters.



He also shed light on the achievements of the K-P assembly, saying that this was the only assembly in Pakistan that had turned digital.

“We have enacted 150 laws during our term so far, including the unique local body system of the province. We have transferred Rs80 billion to local bodies since the implementation of the system in the province. While we have also allotted 30% of the province’s developmental funds to local bodies,” he said.

The speaker went on to say that the K-P Police Act 2017 was also passed, taking political pressure off the police force and empowering the inspector-general of police to authorise transfers and postings.

“This assembly is the people’s forum and we leave our personal interests at the door so that we can aptly address the issues of the constituencies represented here,” he said, adding that the parliamentarians were visiting the K-P assembly as part of an exchange programme.



Qaiser briefed the visiting parliamentarians about the various achievements of the K-P assembly and handed them shawls as souvenirs.

Punjab assembly member from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Dr Nausheen Hamid praised the efforts of the K-P government and said she had personally seen a change in Peshawar.

“I have seen improvements in the condition of roads and the sanitation system. These are definitely the sign of the government’s commitment,” she added.

On the other hand, National Assembly member from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami-Fazl Naeema Kishwar told the media that the PTI-led government delayed the legislation process “which should have been completed at the start of the government. When will they implement them now or how will they work on these laws.”

She went on to say that the government was not following the Local Government Act and the Ehtesab Commission Act properly. She also criticised the government over the dengue outbreak and the ‘dismal’ matriculation results, saying that they indicated a clear failure of the government in health and education sectors.