K-P stopped from letting unelected politicians supervise project

PHC ruled in favour of petitioner after deputy commissioner failed to appear before the court

PESHAWAR: The provincial government has been stopped from allowing unelected political figures from having any sort of oversight role in development projects or to spend development funds.

This was determined in an order issued by a single-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) comprising Justice Ikramullah Khan who heard a writ petition filed by elected local body representative Arbaz Khan against development works in the NA-3 constituency of Peshawar.

Arbaz had noted that on August 7, 2017, the Peshawar deputy commissioner had issued a notification that Rs240 million worth of electrification work in NA-3 has to be carried out on a priority basis. The notification was issued to the executive engineer of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), directing him to complete the scheme in consultation with a local Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Noor Alam Khan.

The notification also details work in different union councils which fall within NA-3.

Arbaz argued that Noor had only recently joined the party and was not an elected member of the K-P assembly, the national assembly or even the local government. Hence, he was not authorised to supervise developmental projects.

After the deputy commissioner failed to appear before the court to explain the order, Justice Ikramullah disposed of the case in favour of the petitioner.

While disposing of the case, Justice Ikramullah expressed his displeasure over the deputy commissioner’s flagrant disregard for the court’s orders and remarked that appearing before the court for case hearing was quite important.

The court restrained the deputy commissioner from allowing Noor to supervise projects or to use development funds. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2018.