Feeling sidelined: Opposition objects to removing funds from MPAs’ remit

K-P Assembly passes budget for FY 2013-14 amid walk outs, commotion.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed the budget for the fiscal year 2013-2014. It also witnessed a a free-for-all after opposition benches protested the transfer of development funds from MPAs to non-existent district authorities. The issue cropped up at the start of the session on Wednesday, which started an hour later than schedule.

Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser asked the law minister to proceed with the demands for grants when opposition lawmaker Nighat Orakzai stood up and protested against abolishment of development funds for MPAs. If the lawmakers on the treasury bench do not need the allocation, she argued, those in the opposition still require these funds.

The development funds in question are normally under the discretion of MPAs to be used in their constituencies as they see fit. In his first visit to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) assumed charge in the province, Imran Khan announced these funds would no longer fall under the provincial lawmakers. Instead, the funds will be spent through district development authorities; to be created after a new local government is elected.

In the assembly session on Wednesday, Orakzai was backed by a near majority of the opposition in countering the proposed change. Lawmakers in question stood up on the benches and created a commotion as they spoke out simultaneously.



Qaiser asked Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai to explain the government’s position, which, however, failed to pacify the opposition benches. The speaker then asked senior minister Sikandar Sherpao to appease the unsympathetic lawmakers.

Sikandar told the opposition the coalition understood the countering point of view and will take everyone forward in dealing with the issue of development funds. The government will ensure all lawmakers’ share, stated Sherpao, but still failed to quell the commotion.

“I promise no one will encroach upon your rights,” reiterated Qaiser.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislator Wajihuz Zaman asked the PTI-led government to continue with the MPAs’ development funds, at least until an alternate system is put in place. “Even then, you give smaller projects to local councillors; MPAs should have a say in mega projects,” argued Zaman.

Finance Minister Sirajul Haq offered to schedule a meeting where opposition parties’ parliamentary leaders could meet Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to address their concerns.

However, even after things settled down, the house could only discuss a dozen or so demands for grants and pass one demand in what will be the final session of the budget debate, ending at the stroke of midnight. The assembly had managed to pass only eight of 59 demands for grants on the first two of three days assigned for the purpose. It passed the remaining 51 demands for grants  on Wednesday.

A halt in proceedings occurred after the in-house sound system broke down, prompting the session to be adjourned for 35 minutes. Later, the opposition walked out over an objection to JUI-F’s Mufti Syed Janan’s speech on a budget-cut motion. Yousaf Ayub, Sherpao and Yousafzai had to cajole the opposition back to the house. PML-N lawmaker Arbab Akbar Hayat also walked out in protest against the transfer of police officials from Dir to Chitral, terming it ‘victimisation’.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said he has paid the bill for the helicopter he used to visit Haripur from his own pocket.

Khattak said he had earlier planned to travel to Haripur by road. However, due to an urgent meeting with the World Food Programme executive director he had to use a helicopter. He said he later realised that it was not proper to use it and asked his secretary to pay the bill.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2013.