KP budget now on May 22

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which had decided in principle not to present the annual budget for the financial year 2018-19, has once again changed the budget schedule to May 22 as a ploy to avoid no-trust moves against the chief minister and speaker of the provincial assembly.

The provincial government had earlier announced to present the annual budget for the fiscal year 2018-19 on May 4. It then changed the date to May 14 and the provincial assembly secretariat has already issued schedule to this effect.

However, credible sources told The News on Monday that the decision to change the schedule for the presentation of the budget in the provincial assembly was taken at a meeting on May 11 at the Chief Minister Secretariat. Chaired by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, the Friday meeting was attended among others by secretary provincial assembly, Nasrullah Khan.

The sources said the provincial government had no intention to present the budget for the next fiscal year. They claimed it keeps on changing the dates for presenting the budget on purpose.

In case the provincial government remained unable to present the budget, the present expenditures would be projected for another four months to enable the caretakers to run affairs of the government. However, from July onward no new development scheme could be launched and raise in the salaries of the government employees would not be approved.

According to sources privy to the May 11 meeting, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government’s announcement of budget schedule was a ploy designed to avoid no-trust move against the chief minister and Speaker Asad Qaiser. They added that the government actually wanted to buy time till the expiry of the current assembly’s term on May 28.

It is worth mentioning that the opposition members have submitted applications to Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, who belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to ask the chief minister to seek fresh vote of trust from the provincial assembly as he lost majority after the expulsion of the PTI’s 20 lawmakers on the allegations of selling their votes in the Senate election.

Former provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi, who was expelled from the PTI after being arrested on corruption charges, has also filed no-trust resolution in the assembly secretariat against Speaker Asad Qaiser.

The sources said that majority of the members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) are under the wrong impression that no no-confidence move could be taken up once the budget session schedule is announced.

They are confused that after the announcement of the budget session, the no-trust move cannot be brought against the speaker and chief minister.However, there is no such bar in the Constitution in this regard, an official pleading anonymity said, and referred to Clause 3 of Article 95 of the Constitution that relates to the vote of no-confidence against the prime minister.

It says that no such resolution could be moved in the National Assembly when the assembly is considering demands for grants submitted to it in the Annual Budget Statement.“While under Article 136, which deals with a similar situation in respect of the chief minister of any province, no such exemption is available to the chief minister and speaker,” he said.

He said that presentation of budget is constitutional obligation. “It is a serious business and the government should take it seriously,” he added.He explained that Finance Department has put up a summary to the chief minister proposing three options. First, the present assembly should present the budget for the next year; second, it should only pass the supplementary budget to provide constitutional cover to the additional expenditures; third, leave the whole budge to the next assembly.

To cope with the evolving situation, the Finance Department has completed preparations accordingly, the official informed.When contacted for his comment, Shakeel Qadir Khan, Secretary Finance, said that he was not aware of any political aspect to the presentation of the budget or purpose for changes in the schedule.

“What I can assure you of is that all preparations have been completed and we are ready for both scenarios, to present the budget or extend the present expenditures portfolio to the caretakers in the province, “he added.