Budget meeting: Contempt notice issued to Lakki Marwat district nazim

Heated argument took place between speaker and nazim

LAKKI MARWAT: District Council speaker Haji Arab Khan has issued a notice to Lakki Marwat district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan over contempt proceedings following a heated argument during budget meeting on Friday. The district naib nazim has also released an official warning to the nazim.

A meeting was held at the district council hall to discuss the development budget for the district. The moot was chaired by Arab.

A member present at the meeting said a heated argument broke out between the two when the speaker announced a break for Friday prayers. However, the district nazim ignored his instructions and continued to address the members. “After issuing repeated directives for a break, the speaker left the floor of the house,” he added.

According to the member, when the session began after the prayers, the speaker asked the opposition leader to deliver a speech. However, Ahmad interrupted him and started speaking without permission, asking the party workers to vote in favour of the budget. They said the ignorant attitude of the district nazim irked the speaker.

“Arab said he belonged to PTI and will give equal opportunity to the opposition to speak on the budget,” the member said. “The speaker said he will not tolerate any discrimination within the house.”

Later, the meeting was adjourned till November 25.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^th, 2015.