Opposition lawmakers in Sindh Assembly decry appropriation of development funds

Deputy speaker asked to refer matter to standing committee

KARACHI: Opposition lawmakers in the Sindh Assembly decried the utilisation of their development funds in ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) constituencies, during the session chaired by Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza on Wednesday.

“Each MPA sitting in this House is supposed to get a community development fund to initiate different schemes in their respective constituency,” said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Heer Ismail Soho, while moving a privilege motion. She added that she belonged to Thatta and her constituency’s funds were being utilised in Sukkur.



“The Sukkur deputy ccommissioner finalised all the schemes and spent the money without my consent. How dare the DC spend this money?” she questioned. She asked the deputy speaker to refer the matter to a standing committee for further investigation.

“This is a big fraud and the opposition members are being victimised,” she alleged, while showing official papers. She added that her privileges had been breached and she wanted a proper investigation into the case.



According to the official document, a sum of Rs7 billion was allocated in the current budget for community development programmes for all 168 members of the assembly. There is a Rs40 million limit for each lawmaker, irrespective of party affiliation.

Parliamentary Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro initially denied that the community development funds had been released to any MPA. He opposed the privilege motion but the deputy speaker sent it to a standing committee. Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan questioned why the parliamentary minister had no idea about it and how the DC utilised the fund without the government’s consent.



“Billions of rupees have been released to treasury members and people sitting on the opposition benches are deprived of the money,” Hasan said, threatening to go to court against the issue.

“The money has been utilised in the name of Heer Soho wherefrom laptops and machinery have also been purchased,” MQM parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed, who previously served as the chief secretary, said, while endorsing Soho’s viewpoint. He asked Khuhro to investigate the fraud.



“This matter seems to be serious, hence we will refer it to a privilege committee,” said the deputy speaker. A few weeks ago, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional parliamentary leader Nand Kumar also wrote a letter to the chief minister, complaining that development funds had been released in his name and utilised in the PPP’s constituency in Mirpurkhas. “I belong to Sanghar and my proposed scheme for the district was thrown in the trash,” he claimed. He added that the officials devised some other schemes in his name and spent the funds in Mirpurkhas. According to Kumar, despite his complaint to the chief minister, the funds were not returned to him.



After the session, MPAs belonging to the MQM addressed the media in front of the assembly. Soho, Rana Ansar and Sumeta Afzal Syed alleged that the PPP-led government had not given relief to people, rather it had diverted female lawmakers’ funds to their own constituencies. “We are going to challenge this in court,” Soho threatened, adding that they would have no reservations if the government or the DC had sought her permission to utilise the funds.

The government also dismissed the adjournment motion of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman regarding failure to effectively control pneumonia in the province. During his speech, Zaman said that many children had lost their lives but the government failed to take any measures to curb the spread of the disease.



“The situation is not as serious when it comes to pneumonia and it is not only common among children as stated by the honorable member, but adults can be victims of it as well,” said Health Minister Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro, while calling the adjournment motion out of order. He added that Zaman was doing politics on the issue and creating unnecessary hype. Later, the deputy speaker termed Zaman’s adjournment motion technically not fit to be discussed in the House.