Discriminatory attitude?: Govt to be taken to court for unfair distribution of ADP funds

Lutfur Rehman claims opposition and women MPAs being sidelined.

PESHAWAR: The opposition will approach the court against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led provincial government’s alleged discriminatory distribution of Annual Development Programme (ADP) funds among MPAs, said Maulana Lutfur Rehman, the opposition leader in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Speaking at the Express Forum on Wednesday in Peshawar, Rehman said, “Funds amounting to Rs400 million, Rs300 million and Rs2.5 million have been issued to various MPAs of the ruling parties periodically.” However, he did not mention any names of the MPAs who allegedly received these allocations from the government.



The JUI-F leader said opposition MPAs and women lawmakers have been ignored in the distribution of funds and his party would not remain quiet on the issue.

Lashing out against the provincial government, Rehman said it has no clear mandate and the coalition can fall apart at any time.

Of dharnas

Moving on to other topics, Rehman said that for the first time in the country’s parliamentary history, all major political parties got together and foiled the conspiracy against democracy. He was referring to the joint session of the Parliament held to discuss the political situation in the country in the wake of the sit-ins organised by PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Islamabad.

“PTI Chairman Imran Khan tried to involve the army in the current political turmoil, but the chief of army staff gave a timely response by supporting democracy,” said Rehman.

He added PTI and PAT’s strategy has failed as the ‘London plan’ has come to light. “PAT chief Tahirul Qadri has packed his luggage and left for Canada. Instead of bringing down the system as Imran Khan said he would by securing the prime minister’s resignation, his allies themselves are resigning,” said Rehman.

According to Rehman, if the elected government is not allowed to complete its term and mid-term elections are held, the country will never see general elections again.

“PTI’s ongoing dharna has done nothing against corruption, instead, it has caused more damage to the country’s economy as foreign dignitaries cancel their visits,” he said.

In response to a question, the opposition leader said JUI-F has the highest regard for democracy and has struggled for upholding the Constitution which is why its leadership is being targeted.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2014.