PM orders probe into K-P terror fund use

Shehbaz says ransacking of Radio Pakistan’s building exposes barbaric mindset of attackers

PESHAWAR:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to conduct an investigation into the utilisation of Rs470 billion provided by the Centre to the province in the name of war against terrorism.

Talking to the political leadership of the province at the Governor House in Peshawar, the prime minister assured the province of the immediate payment of the net hydel profits.

During the meeting, caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan and others raised the issue of payment of dues of more than Rs180 billion.

Shehbaz made it clear that the federal government would clear all the dues it owed to the province.

“The PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) government has always supported Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The dues will be paid to the province as soon as possible so that the province does not suffer financially,” the prime minister told the gathering.

“But along with this, the provincial government should also investigate where Rs470 billion that the Centre has paid to the province as 1% the NFC (National Finance Commission) Award for the war against terrorism has been spent,” he said.

He warned of legal action if the money was not spent for the benefit of the people.

“The previous incompetent rulers pushed the province into a debt trap,” he continued, assuring the government of substantial share in funds in the next budget.

Shehbaz said that there was a flour crisis in the province, “so we started providing free flour”, while the Punjab government started supplying flour to the province.

“Because of these measures, the price of flour is coming down,” he added.

On the occasion, the prime minister directed the political leadership of the province to take up all matters in consultation with the provincial government. “The ruling coalition parties should work together to solve problems of the people.”

Earlier, speaking at an event to express solidarity with the Radio Pakistan employees, Shehbaz said that the attack on its building in Peshawar exposed the barbaric mindset of the attackers, who had no regard for national heritage.

“A widespread wave of anger against attackers was felt across the country after the attack. People from all walks of life strongly condemned the assaults at the government buildings and security installations on May 9 and 10,” he added.

The historical Radio Pakistan building was destroyed by attackers who went on a rampage after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption case.

The Radio Pakistan, Peshawar was a historic station established before the country’s independence in 1935.

It has the distinction that from here, the announcement of Pakistan’s independence was made simultaneously with the Radio Pakistan Lahore.

“The ransacking and putting on fire of the historic Peshawar Radio Pakistan building exposed the barbaric mindsets of the attackers, who had no regard for humanity and national heritage,” Shehbaz said.

“There is no difference between the rioters of May 9 and 10 and terrorists,” the continued. He vowed exemplary punishment to the culprits as per the law and that the government would ensure that such deplorable incidents never recur.

“The violent incidents of May 9 and 10 put the entire in a state of grief and anger. The ransacking of the historic radio station was against the spirit of patriotism and love for national heritage,” he added.

He strongly condemned the burning of the Chagai hills model constructed on the premises of Peshawar Radio Pakistan in memory of the May 28, 1998 successful nuclear explosions that made the country’s defence impregnable.

The prime minister praised injured Radio Pakistan’s employees Naseer and Abdullah, who bravely confronted the rioters. The prime minister also gave away compensation cheques to them.

He ordered for the start of the rehabilitation work at the Radio Pakistan building on an emergency basis. “This historic radio station will be rehabilitated so that it could continue to air its strong voice for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan,” he added.

Radio Pakistan, Peshawar started its transmission from a single room in Civil Secretariat on March 6, 1935, after radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi gifted a transmitter and 30 radio sets to Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum during the latter’s visit for a roundtable conference in London.

Later, the transmitter was shifted to the broadcasting house on July 16, 1942, where currently Supreme Court’s Registry is established. Radio Pakistan Peshawar was shifted to the existing four-storey building in 1985.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on PM Shehbaz in Lahore and exchanged views on the current political situation.

Shehbaz hailed Bilawal for exposing India's false propaganda on the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the New Delhi’s attempt to mislead the world by painting a picture of normalcy by convening the G20 meeting in the occupied territory.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)