Shangla development funds: IHC issues stay order on PML-Q legislator’s petition

Amir Muqam claimed federal govt cancelled his development schemes after he resisted his party's move to join govt.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a stay order and restrained the federal government from using development funds, allocated for the district Shangla of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for other projects.

Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan of the IHC issued stay orders, after legislator of Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) Engineer Amir Muqam from NA- 31 Shangla district filed a writ petition through his counsel Advocate Athar Minallah challenging the notification of a federal government in which it has stopped the release of funds to the on-going projects at his constituency NA-31.

Advocate Minallah adopted before the court that his client Muqam was elected from NA-31 in 2008 elections at the ticket of the PML-Q. After the government was formed, his party decided to sit in the opposition benches instead of joining the government at the center.

He informed the court that later in 2011, PML-Q decided to join the government which was the main reason of differences between his client and the party.

“My client was pressurised and was given threats of suspension and revocation of development funds which were sanctioned and approved by the competent authority in case of all the members of national and provincial assemblies,” he maintained.

He alleged that on March 28, 2012, the federal government, through a letter, froze the allocated funds for the development of his constituency.

He further informed the court that Muqam was pressurised to support the decision of his party of joining the central government, otherwise the development schemes for Shangla would be suspended.

“On November 26, 2011, the PM secretariat through a letter informed Muqam that the approval for the schemes has been withdrawn,” he added.

The counsel contended that his client was asked to give proposals for the development schemes in his constituency like other members of the National Assembly, and accordingly Muqam prepared several proposals and after considering the proposals, the respondents approved and sanctioned a list of proposals.

“Funds were released and the concerned department after fulfilling formalities accepted and approved the tenders in accordance with the law,” he informed the court.

He prayed the court to declare the above said letter as ‘null and void’. He has also prayed to the court to direct the respondents to expeditiously complete the work.

The court issued notices to the additional secretary Prime Minister Secretariat, secretary Cabinet Division, secretary Planning and Development Division, secretary Ministry of Housing and Works, director general Public Works Department (PWD), and chief executive officer Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) and directed them to submit their reply within two weeks.