Jirga formed against alleged corruption in BRT

PESHAWAR: The representatives of various political and religious parties, trade unions, and members of civil society and Khalil Qaumi Jirga on Thursday formed Peshawar Qaumi Jirga and announced to launch a campaign against alleged corruption in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on March 12.

The Khalil Qaumi Jirga had earlier announced to stage protest on March 23 in front of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office against the alleged corruption in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the delay in its completion. They had also warned that the main Jamrud Road in Peshawar would be blocked as a mark of protest. The “Peshawar Qaumi Jirga” convened a meeting of all the political parties, trade unions, and members of the civil society organisation at a hotel.

Besides others, former provincial minister and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Amanullah Haqqani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Arbab Khizer Hayat, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ex-minister Kashif Azam, Awami National Party ex-MPA Alamgir Khalil, Pakistan People’s Party’s Arbab Zarak Khan and ex-MPA Ateefur-Rahman Khalil, civil society member Malik Mehar Elahi, central president Tanzeem-i-Tajiran, Ihtisham Haleem, founder member of Small Traders, Khalid Ayub, president Karwan organisation, Mujeebur Rahman, president Cantt Traders’ Union, and Traders’ Peace Committee, University Road president, Amir Nawaz Khan Afridi and others attended the jirga. A member of the jirga said that the BRT project is disastrous for the people of Peshawar, and a mega corruption scandal. The project cost, he said, had gone up from Rs60 billion to over 100 billion, while the structure of university road was badly affected.