In a ruckus: K-P lawmakers fail to maintain decorum despite warnings

Debate over allocation of development funds stretches into its second day.

PESHAWAR: Opposition and treasury benches in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly waded through a ruckus while debating the allocation of development funds to lawmakers on Thursday.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle traded barbs throughout the session amid warnings from deputy speaker of adjourning the session if the members continued to disregard his directions and failed to maintain a semblance of order. However, his warnings were in vain.

Opening the debate following the question-answer session, PPP lawmaker Nighat Orakzai took Minister for Finance Sirajul Haq to the task for his female-only-parliament remarks and alleged that Siraj was constructing 60 kilometeres of roads in his constituency from development funds.

She claimed it was a breach of the female lawmakers’ privilege to give them only Rs10 million in development funds, while treasury lawmakers were given Rs60 million each for their constituencies. She also accused the government of violating Article 25 of the Constitution by discriminating in distribution of funds.

However, Nighat’s speech only served to ruffle feathers, as Siraj went on to make loud outbursts rejecting her assertions by accusing her of spreading rumors.

He said the government had introduced a new development policy aimed at reducing corruption and improving the quality of work, wherein consultants will be hired for development projects. Siraj added that the provincial government during the past eight months had not constructed a single kilometer of road and was only focusing on ongoing schemes.

The finance minister maintained that the government still requires time to adopt new strategies for services and works.

However, when Siraj alluded to criticizing the PPP leadership towards the end of his speech, Nighat was visibly angered and started raising her voice.

Nighat refused to listen to pleas from deputy speaker Imtiaz Shahid, while on the other side Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker from Dir, Mohammad Ali, tried to counter her allegations. After his repeated pleas for restraint fell on deaf ears, Imtiaz Shahid threatened lawmakers to adjourn the session if they were unable to maintain decorum.

Awami National Party parliamentary leader Sardar Babak cautioned restraint and said the opposition and government should avoid attacks on each other’s leaderships. He said the government should listen intently to what the opposition lawmakers have to say on these issues.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl lawmaker Maulana Asmatullah also criticised Sirjaul Haq and said that his district, Kohistan, had been ignored in allocation of development funds despite its backwardness. He also used the opportunity to oppose the division of Kohistan and alleged the government was doing so to please a single lawmaker.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Amna Sardar also called for equitable distribution of development funds and stressed that development work should be carried out on a need basis.

Information Minister Shah Farman, on the other hand, said the PTI-led government will not discriminate against any district and its lawmakers.

Minority lawmaker Frederick Azeem complained that he was given Rs10 million, while his constituency was spread over the entire province and tabled a demand of Rs100 million for his community’s development.

Opposition and treasury lawmakers failed to agree over concluding the debate which had already stretched into its second day. The session continued till the filing of this report.