K-P Assembly: Govt annoyed by ECP’s ban on developmental schemes

Lawmakers terms the decision unconstitutional

PESHAWAR: Irked by an apex poll body-mandated freeze on recruitment and developmental schemes approved on or after April 1, the provincial government on Friday termed the decision “unconstitutional and illegal”.

“The decision of the election commission of Pakistan (ECP) is strange and I would call it unconstitutional and illegal,” claimed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Law Minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi while speaking on the floor of provincial assembly on Friday.

Even though the assembly had convened for a short time on Friday, the ruling coalition lawmaker found time to aim a few barbs at the poll body.

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“It (the ECP) has imposed a ban on developmental schemes while we still have two months to spend [the annual budget],” he said, the pain evident in his voice.

The ECP had imposed a ban to halt pre-poll rigging whereby governments use development schemes and mass recruitment as tools to garner votes. Instead, the election body directed governments to use funds for completing existing schemes.

Resolutions passed

The K-P assembly started its fresh session on Friday. In its first sitting, it passed two resolutions.

One of the resolutions condemned an airstrike on a seminary in the Kunduz region of Afghanistan which left dozens of students dead.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker Fakhr Azam Wazir tabled the resolution and it was adopted by the house after a majority of lawmakers voted in favour of it.



“The assembly condemns the American airstrike on a seminary in Kunduz during a graduation ceremony, in which more than 100 innocent people were martyred,” the resolution stated.

“The assembly calls it an open challenge to the United Nations, the international community, human rights organizations and the entire world. If the International community did not act against this aggression of America then it will continue to kill Muslims in the name of terrorism,” it added.

The second resolution tabled in the house was in favour of implementing the 18th amendment of the Constitution. The resolution stated that the amendment was based on principles of provincial autonomy which would help in equal development and progress of the all the federating units of Pakistan.



“All institutions of Pakistan should respect and honour the amendment and no attempt should be made to amend it and repeal it,” it said, adding that the amendment should be implemented in letter and spirit so that its positive impacts can reach the public.

Having voted on the two resolutions, there was still time for a disgruntled member from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to grill the government about oil and gas royalty shares.

Restless MPAs

PTI lawmaker from Kohat Amjad Afridi, who has previously agitated in the house on the issue asked why his constituency’s share was being held up by the provincial government.

He added that despite protesting against the measure and rulings from Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, the departments concerned have yet to release the funds.

“PK-37 has not been given its oil and gas royalty and the government should be ashamed of its role,” he said.

Qureshi, while responding to Afridi’s accusations, said that the government had released Rs1 billion to Kohat as part of its due share of royalty. However, the funds could not be spent since but Afridi had obtained a stay order from the court on those funds.

Taking a cue from Afridi, Abdul Karim Khan of the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) complained that Swabi’s share of the tobacco cess has yet to not paid. He noted that the assembly had formed a committee under the supervision of Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai five months ago.

However, Abdul complained that the committee has yet to convene for even a single meeting.

Bills

The law minister also tabled the K-P Sehat Insaf Act 2018.

The bill aims to provide legal cover to the ongoing Sehat Insaf Card project of the K-P government under which health protection is given to cardholders by the government.

The draft law also aims to provide that beneficiaries for the card shall be selected on the criteria set for the Benazir Income Support Programme.

The bill also binds the government to provide a regular budget to the health department for the programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2018.