Lashing out: Ruling party embarrassed by dissenting lawmakers

Three treasury MPAs launch tirade against ‘illegal appointments’ in prisons department.

PESHAWAR:

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was left red in the face during Monday’s provincial assembly session as some of its disgruntled lawmakers called for the sacking of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s adviser for prisons. They claimed the official made hundreds of illegal appointments in his department.

The outbursts of three PTI lawmakers left the treasury benches embarrassed, while the opposition was given the fuel it needed to thump their desks and start jeering. Speaker Asad Qaiser was unable to calm the house and adjourned the session till Tuesday afternoon amid jeers from opposition members who took exception to a minister’s remarks.

Monday’s session was stormy from the outset as opposition lawmakers staged a walkout against the government’s refusal to release development funds to Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) lawmaker from Hangu, Mufti Syed Janan. The MPA, on a point of order, alleged that about Rs230 million was not being released due to the interference of PTI’s local chapter.

The walkout disrupted the session and the speaker sent the house on a 15-minute tea break. After opposition lawmakers walked out after Janan’s speech, PTI lawmaker Qurban Ali Khan’s tirade took the house by surprise.

Speaking on a point of order, he lashed out at ministers from his own treasury benches for making “illegal appointments”. He said if his concerns were not addressed at the assembly, he would resort to other forums. Qurban said he joined the PTI for the sake of merit and would go to any extent to stop violations.

He said the house must be informed of the criteria to make nearly 800 appointments in the prisons department. He added such officials are “black sheep” in the PTI’s ranks.

“The minister concerned should step down from office and all those officials involved in these appointments should also be suspended,” he said. When Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman tried to explain the government’s position, the opposition staged a walkout. This forced the speaker to announce a recess.

When the session resumed following the break, PTI Peshawar President Yasin Khalil continued with the diatribe against illegal appointments. He said those involved in such practices should be punished.

Mehmood Jan, another lawmaker, said there was not a single department in K-P that was functioning properly. He accused the health, environment and education minister of wrongdoings. However, the speaker did not allow him to proceed with his speech despite his requests.

Opposition lawmakers supported Jan and asked the speaker to let him continue. When Shah Farman tried to explain the government’s stance, saying the appointments had been cancelled, his voice was drowned by cries of “shame, shame” from opposition lawmakers.

Qaiser also tried to pacify opposition members who were outraged by Farman’s remarks about opening cases from previous governments. The speaker announced the formation of a special committee to look into the matter, but the opposition seemed least interested and continued creating a hue and cry in the house. This forced Qaiser to adjourn the session till Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the much awaited Censorship of Films, CDs, Videos, Stage Dramas and Shows Bill was tabled before the K-P Assembly.  Moreover, the house passed the K-P Maternity Benefit (amendment) Act 2015 and K-P Arms (amendment) Act 2015.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2015.