Bedlam in RMC over ‘curse’ word

LG body approves development budget sans debate

RAWALPINDI: The municipal corporation has approved a development budget of over Rs16 billion amid pandemonium over using the ‘curse’ word against the elected local government body.

The ruling party in Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) approved the funds allocation amid ruckus from the opposition benches where some people said they curse such an assembly.

The opposition demanded a debate and transparency in allocation of funds and third-party audit of the development schemes.

Union Councils (UC) chairmen from the opposition kept chanting no, no, not acceptable, not acceptable during the session.

Following suit from a particular party in the parliament, the opposition in RMC berated the local government body.

Opposition benches accused the government of corruption, theft and said they curse the assembly of the municipal corporation. Funds are being spent without tenders and transparency; we curse this kind of assembly, they chanted in chorus.

However, responding to the onslaught, UC chairmen belonging to PML-N chairmen passed resolution against Imran Khan and Sheikh Rasheed for cursing the parliament which too got approved despite chaos. The session couldn’t last long due to disorderliness.

The session was chaired by Deputy Mayor Tariq Mehmood. Mayor Sardar Naseem was also present. Despite the reservations and objections by the opposition members, government members unanimously approved the agenda.

With tempers flying high over unilateral decisions on development funds, fiery sentences were exchanged between UC 39 Chairman Anjum Farooq Paracha of PPP and the mayor which led to a tumult.

Though the session started on a somber note with mayor terming the demise of UC 43 chairman Malik Sabir a tragedy for Pakistan’s politics, the commotion started when without opening the debate among the assembly members, the treasury announced approval for the agenda which the members of government approved unanimously.

Elected chairman of UC 40 and member APML Sheikh Rasheed’s nephew Rashid Shafiq on the occasion raised objection and said: “How can the agenda be approved without opening debate among the assembly members? There should be a debate first.” His objection however was revoked.

Opposition members pointed out anomalies in allocation for recently constructed streets and roads.

Numerous sites have been dug up and filled with earth without any work and the budget for the project has been siphoned to the pockets of the selected few, they said.

They said that they curse such an assembly where a UC chairman does not have the right to change or fix even an electric bulb. This statement triggered a heated debate in the chamber.

Treasury members in RMC said that after national assembly being cursed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and All Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Peoples Party also cursed the elected assembly of RMC.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2018.