MPAs receiving extortion calls, claims Durrani

Opposition leader in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly Akram Khan Durrani has criticized the provincial government for its failure to maintain law and order and claimed that members of provincial assembly (MPAs) were receiving calls for extortion on a daily basis.

Addressing the assembly session, he said that deputy commissioner Lakki Marwat has issued a letter in which local residents have been urged to ensure their own security.

“This is the responsibility of state to provide security to its citizen and after this letter from DC Lakki, provincial government should resign,” he said while talking on a point of order.

Durrani said that the statement by the chief minister that the province was heading towards default was irresponsible.

“The chief minister claimed that he had talked with the opposition and they would join PTI in its march on Islamabad for the rights of the province. These are white lies. I am the opposition leader and no one has discussed it with me,” he added.

He observed that dissolution of provincial assemblies was talk of the town.

“The K-P government is telling us that first Punjab Assembly would be dissolved and Punjab government is claiming that the K-P government is first to go,” he noted, saying that when PTI was in power at the Centre, then net hydel profit, gas royalty and tobacco cess were key issues and the opposition supported the provincial government but CM Mahmood Khan didn’t take it seriously then.

He said that the provincial debt has increased to Rs791 billion despite the fact that no mega project has been launched in the province so far.

Durrani alleged that his constituency was completely ignored in development funds and government didn’t hesitate to baton charge even protesting teachers.

The house also passed a privilege motion against the high-handedness of police with MPA Asif Khan at Khazana police station.

It was later sent to the standing committee for further action.

Talking on a point of order MPA Aasif Khan said that a LG councilor Ahmad was arrested with search warrant and when he reached the police station there the SHO Ijaz Khan mistreated him and MPA Jehandad Khan.

Lack of quorum during the assembly session has become a serious issue for quite some time.

When the session started on Tuesday, the entire house presented a deserted look for which the deputy speaker expressed his displeasure.