Foregoing merit: PHC seeks reply over development schemes in FATA
Questions why contracts were awarded by lawmakers and not advertised.
Questions why contracts were awarded by lawmakers and not advertised. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday issued notices to principal staff officers (PSO) of the president and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor questioning why contracts for development schemes in the tribal areas were not advertised.
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Secretariat had earlier assured the court that all development schemes would be advertised and the contracts awarded on merit.
A division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and comprising Justice Irshad Qaiser questioned why the schemes were then granted to those nominated by Fata parliamentarians.
During the hearing of a petition filed by Habib Malik Orakzai and Gohar Zaman, their counsel Malik Muhiuddin told the court that Fata lawmaker Munir Orakzai nominated five persons for schemes worth Rs20 million. He argued that this violated the commitment made by the secretariat.
Orakzai granted the schemes, which were approved by the Fata secretariat, on January 1, 2012. A total of 42 schemes, each worth Rs20 million, were approved.
The bench observed that since President Asif Ali Zardari and K-P Governor Barrister Masood Kausar have executive authority over Fata, they should ensure transparency while spending tax money.
In a separate case, PHC also issued a notice to the K-P governor’s secretary seeking his reply on why he barred the public relation officer (PRO) of the governor house from performing his duties.
PRO Muhammad Hanif filed a petition at the PHC saying K-P governor’s secretary, Abid Majeed, has banned him from entering the Governor House. Security officials at the gate do not let him enter and he has not been able to perform his duties since January 10, he added.
During the hearing, Hanif’s counsel told the bench no reason has been given to his client for not being allowed to enter the building.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2013.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday issued notices to principal staff officers (PSO) of the president and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor questioning why contracts for development schemes in the tribal areas were not advertised.
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Secretariat had earlier assured the court that all development schemes would be advertised and the contracts awarded on merit.
A division bench headed by PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and comprising Justice Irshad Qaiser questioned why the schemes were then granted to those nominated by Fata parliamentarians.
During the hearing of a petition filed by Habib Malik Orakzai and Gohar Zaman, their counsel Malik Muhiuddin told the court that Fata lawmaker Munir Orakzai nominated five persons for schemes worth Rs20 million. He argued that this violated the commitment made by the secretariat.
Orakzai granted the schemes, which were approved by the Fata secretariat, on January 1, 2012. A total of 42 schemes, each worth Rs20 million, were approved.
The bench observed that since President Asif Ali Zardari and K-P Governor Barrister Masood Kausar have executive authority over Fata, they should ensure transparency while spending tax money.
In a separate case, PHC also issued a notice to the K-P governor’s secretary seeking his reply on why he barred the public relation officer (PRO) of the governor house from performing his duties.
PRO Muhammad Hanif filed a petition at the PHC saying K-P governor’s secretary, Abid Majeed, has banned him from entering the Governor House. Security officials at the gate do not let him enter and he has not been able to perform his duties since January 10, he added.
During the hearing, Hanif’s counsel told the bench no reason has been given to his client for not being allowed to enter the building.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2013.